Updated 10:30 p.m. CST

Nearly 18 months after voters denied the system's last bond referendum, it appears voters in Harris and Montgomery counties have approved the Lone Star College System's $485 million bond authorization Nov. 4.

With all precincts reported in Montgomery County and 88 percent of precincts reported in Harris County, about 65 percent of voters supported the bond referendum, or about 161,000 of the 248,000 total votes. About 67 percent of voters in Harris County approved the bond, while 61 percent voted to approve it in Montgomery County.

"To me it is a reaffirmation from the community that the community values education [and] they value the community college," LSCS Chancellor Steve Head said. "It's a vote for economic prosperity, and it is a vote for progress in our community."

Voters turned down a $500 million bond referendum in May 2013. The $497.7 million bond package in May 2013 received 47 percent approval from residents, with 71 percent of voters in Montgomery County opposed to the 2013 bond package. Head said the college system had a different approach with this bond election.

"We focused on the facts—the facts are that the college is growing," Head said. "We're growing quicker than anyone else. We had the largest increase in the state this semester. We reached out to different groups that opposed the bond before and tried to meet their concerns."

The bond package includes $351.1 million in new construction, which provides $97.5 million for new technology centers, $55.1 million for health and science buildings, $54.4 million for academic buildings, $46.9 million for student services buildings and $44.9 million for satellite centers.

Nearly 34,000 credit students have been added to the LSCS since 2007. Head said the system anticipates growing another 4–5 percent annually over the next several years, and the bond should help accommodate growth at LSCS for the next 5–7 years. However, should growth slow, he said LSCS has the ability to hold off on constructing new projects.

"This helps us prepare for the future and meet future needs," Head said. "I think it positions the community and the region as a whole very well."

The 2014 bond package placed more of an emphasis on the growing need for skilled workers in the region, with plans to add new advanced technology centers at the CyFair, North Harris, Kingwood, Tomball and University Park campuses.

Poll results are unofficial until canvassed.

Posted 7:34 CST

Early voters in Harris and Montgomery counties have shown their support for the Lone Star College System's $485 million bond authorization, with 63.3 percent of early voters and absentee ballots voting in favor of the bond.

Nearly 69,000 of the 106,000 voters in Harris County, or 64.8 percent of voters, approved the bond in Harris County based on early and absentee votes while nearly 60 percent of early voters in Montgomery County voted for the bond referendum.

Voters turned down a $500 million bond referendum in May 2013. The $497.7 million bond package in May 2013 received 47 percent approval from residents, with 71 percent of voters in Montgomery County opposed to the 2013 bond package.

If approved by voters, this bond package would include $351.1 million in new construction, which provides $97.5 million for new technology centers, $55.1 million for health and science buildings, $54.4 million for academic buildings, $46.9 million for student services buildings and $44.9 million for satellite centers.

The 2014 bond package placed more of an emphasis on the growing need for skilled workers in the region, with plans to add new advanced technology centers at the CyFair, North Harris, Kingwood, Tomball and University Park campuses.

Nearly 34,000 credit students have been added to the LSCS since 2007.

Poll results are unofficial until canvassed.