The vote for Nebo School District's bond election was too close to call Tuesday night.

With all the regular votes counted, 154 more people voted in favor of the $160 million bond than against it. Because the margin is less than 200 votes, it's not official until absentee and provisional ballots are counted, district spokeswoman Lana Hiskey said. Turnout was about 10 percent of registered voters.

The official declaration will be at 5 p.m. on July 1 at the district office building.

"We're sorry, too," she said Tuesday night. "We wanted it over."

The run-up to the bond election has been plagued with various concerns, including a lack of awareness, fewer poll locations, confusing wording on the ballot and a low turnout because of the June timing. There was a question of how much taxes actually would be raised; Nebo officials said homeowners would only pay an additional $13.75 on average, while the current $302 levy from the bond that is already in place, of which this bond is an extension, would continue for another five years. State Sens. Curt Bramble and Howard Stephenson encouraged people to vote against the bond because the information about the bond misled people by saying their taxes would remain the same, when they would actually pay more because the bond would last longer.

Melissa Crockett of West Mountain said she did not agree with the taxes being levied against home value, because that taxed people more who had more. While she does not own her own home, Crockett is a student and her parents are helping her with school. When their budget gets tighter, so does hers, she said.

"To tell you the honest truth, my mom told me to get my butt out there and vote against it," Crockett said.

She also didn't hear about the election until Monday and didn't think June was a good time to be holding an election because people didn't know about it. Plus, she said, now is hardly the time for the government to be asking citizens for more money.

"I think that we're struggling enough," she said.

Wes Lifferth of Payson agreed.

"Especially in today's economy and stuff, they're just getting too tax-happy," he said of government entities, adding they need to be more cautious considering how uncertain home values, salaries and other economic indicators are. "I just think the government needs to consider people."

For Amy Anson of Payson, the government is considering people - her children and the children of all the people who will be moving into the Nebo School District in the future. As a homeowner, she understands the concerns of more taxes, but this is about education and growth, two good things.

"I think we need to do everything we can to accommodate growth and keep class sizes smaller," she said. "The benefits totally outweigh the disadvantage of having to pay a little bit more on my property taxes."

Edward Miner, who 20 years ago applied to be principal at Payson High School, where he cast his vote on Tuesday, said he has seen the growth in the area, and it's coming whether new schools are built or old schools are repaired. He and his wife always support education, he said, and they realize it costs money. But he was concerned about how the economy would affect the vote.

"I think that it'll do better next year," he said of the election.

The new bond, which would last until 2027, will pay for repairs and to build new schools to accommodate the estimated 1,000 new students a year. Officials say by extending the life of the current bond, they can keep the same tax rates, which will save money. Given the economic conditions, now also is a good time to build schools as construction costs are down. If enrollment continues to increase and the district doesn't get additional funding through a bond, other options are using portables instead of building new schools, increasing class sizes, realigning school boundaries and possibly moving to extended-day models and year-round schools.

Bond ($160 million to build new schools)

In favor: 3,057 votes

Opposed: 2,903

Leeway (additional $13.75 on property taxes to pay for operations)

In favor: 3,062

Against: 3,005

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