LONG BEACH - Supporters of a $440 million bond measure for new construction at Long Beach City College hoped that an early lead in election returns would hold up Tuesday night, hopes borne out by the tally early Wednesday.

With all precincts counted early Wednesday, Measure E drew support from 73.22 percent of voters. The measure requires at least 55 percent voter approval for passage.

"This is a great night for all Long Beach City College students," LBCC Superintendent-President Eloy Oakley told Measure E supporters at a party at the downtown restaurant Smooth's Sports Grille.

Oakley said that passage is needed to ensure that the college has advanced facilities to keep up with trends in enrollment and technology.

"I think it's hugely important," he said. "We'll survive if it doesn't pass, but we will be a much better community if it passes."

Doug Otto, a member of the LBCC Board of Trustees, said he was proud of the campaign supporters conducted.

"This has been a tremendous campaign, and we have a lot to be proud of," he said.

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, who supported the bond measure, said that it would be a "great asset" for the city.

In 2002, area voters approved a $176 million bond measure, also called Measure E, for LBCC. That measure received 65 percent support.

Due to an unanticipated rise in construction costs in Southern California, the college was unable to begin some of the projects that were originally envisioned as part of the 2002 measure, college officials have said.

The new Measure E funds would be used to complete those projects and begin new projects, such as a 700-space parking structure and a new Liberal Arts classroom building, both at the college's Liberal Arts Campus.

Supporters say the new bond measure contains a sufficient cushion to handle future increases in construction costs.

If approved, the new Measure E would extend the maximum tax rate for the 2002 bond measure, set at $19.97 per $100,000 of assessed commercial and residential valuation. That tax was set to dwindle and expire by 2032.

The new bond measure would extend that maximum tax rate until 2051, with the aim of having all campus construction complete by 2020.

Property owners currently pay $18.40 per $100,000 of assessed value for the 2002 bond measure.