Voters have passed Mount Vernon's $203.2 million school budget 1,568 to 1,505.

The district's budget was voted down twice last year, nearly resulting in the cancellation of athletic programs at Mount Vernon High School, which were saved thanks to a fundraising campaign.

Many voters say the 12 percent tax increase that comes with the newly approved budget is worth it in the long run.

"A lot of the kids are in the sports program, and that's their way of staying off the streets," says Jeremiah Jackson, of Mount Vernon. "I feel without that, a lot of kids would be in bad places."