Voters in Mecklenburg County approved a $2.5 billion schools bond with more than 63% voting yes, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

The bond will fund 30 school construction and renovation projects identified as high priority by the school board. 

The new debt will require Mecklenburg County property owners to pay an estimated three one-cent increases over the next five years. Each cent increase means the tax on a $300,000 home would go up by $30.

The bond will pay for new middle schools in south and southwest Charlotte and Huntersville and a new magnet high school focused on health sciences in uptown Charlotte.

Mecklenburg County voters also cast ballots for three at-large members of the school board. 

Fourteen candidates filed to run for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education.

As of about 11 p.m., with all precincts reporting, the four winners are:

  • Lenora Shipp - 14.7%
  • Liz Monterrey - 12.4%
  • Monty Witherspoon - 12.4%
  • Shamaiye Haynes - 10.2%