Voters in Davis and Granite school districts were apparently feeling generous Tuesday, with partial vote returns showing they were on the way to approving borrowing half-a-billion dollars to build and upgrade schools.

Granite's $256 million bond was well on its way to passage, according to unofficial results.

Even though votes were still being counted, Granite officials were jubilant late Tuesday evening.

"It was a big unknown, because we haven't had a bond election in 26 years," said Granite spokesman Ben Horsley. "But we did a lot of communication to help people understand this would not result in a tax increase."

Granite intends to use $17 million in existing construction funds to pay back the bond over 20 years.

Most of the money, about $61 million, will be spent installing air conditioning in 51 schools. The rest will pay for three new schools and to completely rebuild five others, including Granger and Olympus High.

Architects are already working on the Granger rebuild, said Horsley. Next up is Oympus High.

"Obviously we want to get started on air conditioning as soon as possible," said Horsley. "But the bulk of that will be done in the summer months when school isn't in session."

Voters also looked ready to give a hearty "yes" to Davis County School District's quest to borrow using a $250 million bond.

The money will be piggybacked onto an existing bond and will not result in a tax increase, officials said.

The bond will pay for various upgrades to existing schools and a new junior high in west Kaysville; three new elementary schools (west Layton, West Point and a third to be determined based on growth); and a school for medically fragile students.