The unofficial results of the special and joint elections show some changes are coming locally with two school district bonds being approved by voters and new councilmembers coming on board.

A little more than 12,000 ballots were cast in the election that also included 10 constitutional amendments and, according to the Jefferson County Clerk’s website, this accounts for 8.36 percent of the 146,220 registered voters in the county.

Here’s a run-down of the results, which have yet to be canvassed, or confirmed.

Groves

Chris Borne won the Ward 1 seat with 785 votes or 59.7 percent of total ballots cast against his opponent Cindy Kreutzer who had 634 votes or 40.3 percent of total ballots cast.

Incumbent and longtime councilman Sidney Badon Jr. was reelected to his Ward 3 seat with 712 or 52.9 percent of total ballots cast against Barbara Edington who came in with 634 or 47.1 percent of total ballots cast.

Port Neches

A proposition for reducing the economic development corporation’s sales tax from one-half of 1 percent to one-quarter of 1 percent and reallocating the other one-quarter to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of city streets was overwhelmingly approved by Port Neches voters. A total of 1,329 ballots were cast in the special election with 1,050 votes or 79.01 percent in favor of the proposition and 279 votes against.

Jefferson County WCID No. 10

A proposition for residents in Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 to raise taxes from 3 cents per $100 valuation to 8 cents per $100 valuation was approved by a close margin.

Votes cast in favor of the proposition were 174 or 56.86 percent while 132 or 43.14 percent of the ballots cast were in opposition.

The tax hike would fund maintenance and purchases for bunker gear, fire hose and nozzles, a rescue truck and more.

Port Neches-Groves Independent School District

A $130 million bond to reduce the number of elementary schools in the district from seven to four by building new elementary schools in each city was overwhelmingly approved.

A total of 1,740 votes or 66.16 percent of ballots cast were in favor of the bond while 890 or 33.84 percent of the total ballots cast were against the issue.

Sabine Pass Independent School District

Residents in Sabine Pass ISD approved a $150 million bond “for construction, acquisition, renovation and equipment of school buildings in the district.”

With 92 people voting, there were 59 votes or 64.13 percent in favor of the bond and 33 or 35.87 percent against the bond.

Jefferson County Special Election

Votes in the county approved two propositions related to horse racing.

Proposition A, which is legalizing pari-mutuel wagering on horse races in Jefferson County, had 6,482 votes or 54.90 percent in favor and 5,325 or 45.1 percent against the issue.

Proposition B, which is legalizing pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast races in Jefferson County, had 6,201 votes or 52.86 percent in favor and 5,530 or 47.14 percent against.