Voters in the Marshalltown Community School District gave the school district more resources to improve school security with a resounding 2,227 votes, or 77 percent, “yes” to 664 votes, or 23 percent “no” Tuesday.

In order to pass, the revenue purpose statement had to receive at least 50 percent voter approval.

The school board voted unanimously earlier this year to set an election for the updated revenue purpose statement on how the district plans to use Secure and Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) 1-cent sales tax extended by state lawmakers also earlier this year.

“In 2011 your constituents passed a revenue purpose statement,” said district Director of Finance Paulette Newbold earlier this year. “Due to the changes and the extension, we have the opportunity and need to do a new revenue purpose statement that will go beyond the current 2029 RPS that’s in place.”

If the measure did not pass, the existing statement passed in 2011 would remain in effect. Newbold said it is important to get the new statement passed to reflect the extension to SAVE at the state level.

“School safety is at the forefront of a lot of conversations, so that language is in there,” she said.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com