Voters have approved a referendum that will increase property taxes in the Southwest Allen County Schools district.

According to unofficial results from the Allen County Election Board, about 70 percent of voters agreed to increased taxes by voting "yes." There were 4,003 "yes" votes, 1,676 "no" votes and one provisional ballot.

The vote will allow the district to renew a separate tax levy that generates money for schools. The district is collecting $2.6 million annually from the levy, but that amount will now increase to $3.5 million.

The money will maintain smaller class sizes by retaining the same number of teachers the district currently employs. If the referendum had not passed, 47 teachers would have been let go, Superintendent Brian Smith said.

District officials have said property taxes would increase $13 annually on a $200,000 home. If voters had rejected the referendum, it would have eliminated the tax increase approved in 2003, so the tax bill on a $200,000 home would have decreased by $124 annually.