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Voters approve Wake Tech bonds, Orange transit tax

Area voters approved most referendums on Tuesday's ballots, including bonds for Wake Technical Community College and an Orange County tax for public transit.

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RALEIGH, N.C. — Area voters approved most referendums on Tuesday's ballots, including bonds for Wake Technical Community College and an Orange County tax for public transit.

Wake Tech was seeking $200 million in bonds to upgrade and expand its facilities. Voters passed the measure by 73 to 27 percent, according to unofficial results.

College employees planned to stand at the entrances to the main campus near Garner and the campus in north Raleigh with "thank you" signs during the morning rush hour on Wednesday as a show of gratitude to area residents.

Orange County voters went 59 to 41 percent for a half-cent sales tax increase to generate money for public transit projects. Durham County voters approved a similar tax a year ago.

"With today’s vote of confidence, two of the three counties served by Triangle Transit are moving forward with expanding their bus networks locally and regionally and beginning work on a light rail connection between Chapel Hill and downtown Durham," Triangle Transit General Manager David King said in a statement.

Edgecombe County narrowly approved a quarter-cent increase to their local sales tax rate, while Harnett County voters soundly rejected a similar tax increase there.

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