Mid-Columbia voters showed their love for schools and their students Tuesday by approving a slew of maintenance and operations levies.

Most of the levies on the ballot were passing by 60 percent or more in preliminary results.

The measures require 50 percent voter approval, but in a handful of districts -- Richland, Prosser, Paterson, Kahlotus -- the approval rates were reaching 70 percent or higher.

"It's pretty overwhelming to see this level of support despite the economy," said Richland Superintendent Jim Busey.

The district's two-year levy handily passed with 71 percent approval. The levy will collect $19.7 million in 2013 and $20.9 million in 2014.

School officials and supporters acknowledged the state of the economy provided some concern that voters would not show the same support for the levies as in the past.

"We're feeling very good tonight about the support from our community," said Dave Bond, Kennewick School District superintendent.

In Kennewick, the two-year replacement levy was passing with 66 percent of the vote. Kennewick levies total $22 million in 2013 and $23.4 million in 2014.

None of the levies represents a new tax, and all are replacing levies that will expire at the end of 2012.

School districts rely upon the operations levies to cover basic school needs, such as teacher salaries and maintenance, as well as co-curricular activities such as athletics and the arts.

The levies have become increasingly important as the state has cut funding to K-12 education, officials say.

Ray Tolcacher, superintendent of the Prosser School District, said residents understand the state is not providing the money needed to pay for education. The Prosser levy passed with 73 percent approval.

Residents in Prosser previously rejected two bond measures to build a new high school in the district, but Tolcacher said the success of the levy does not mean they are ready for another bond measure attempt.

"A bond would be a completely different issue," he said.

In Kennewick, levy dollars make up more than 20 percent of the district's annual budget, while in the Richland School District, levy funds make up 17 percent of the budget.

More than half the money the Pasco School District gets from its operations levy goes to classroom expenses, such as teachers, library books and curriculum costs. Pasco's levy was passing with 60 percent approval.

Mike Miller, chairman of the Pasco Citizens for Better Schools committee, said citizens and school officials worked hard to make sure residents knew about the levy and how important it was for their children.

"We've got a great school district that continues to do a great job," he said.

Pasco's levy will collect $20.1 million in 2013 and $20.3 million in 2014.

Most of the area's smaller school districts also were seeing strong support of their levy renewals. Kiona-Benton City showed the tightest margin, with 52 percent approval.

Election results won't be final until Feb. 28. Election officials will continue to count votes as mail-in ballots arrive.

Mid-Columbia voters approve levies

Benton County

Richland: 71 percent yes, 29 percent no

Kennewick: 66 percent yes, 34 percent no

Kiona-Benton City: 52 percent yes, 48 percent no

Finley: 64 percent yes, 36 percent no

Prosser: 73 percent yes, 27 percent no

Paterson: 76 percent yes, 24 percent no

Franklin County

Pasco: 60 percent yes, 40 percent no

North Franklin: 67 percent yes, 33 percent no

Kahlotus: 77 percent yes, 23 percent no

Columbia County

Dayton: 58 percent yes, 52 percent no

Dayton technology levy: 54 percent yes, 46 percent no

Walla Walla County

Walla Walla: 64 percent yes, 36 percent no

Waitsburg: 66 percent yes, 34 percent no

Prescott: 68 percent yes, 32 percent no

Grant County

Wahluke: 58 percent yes, 42 percent no

Warden: 58 percent yes, 42 percent no

Warden bond/capital levy: 51 percent yes, 49 percent no

Royal: 62 percent yes, 38 percent no

Moses Lake: 56 percent yes, 44 percent no

Moses Lake school bond: 50 percent yes. Measure failing.*

Yakima County

Sunnyside: 69 percent yes, 31 percent no

Mabton: 65 percent yes, 36 percent no

Adams County

Othello:59 percent yes, 41 percent noWashtucna: 74 percent yes, 26 percent no * Needs 60 percent approval to pass.