WORTHINGTON — Citizens in the southwestern Minnesota town of Worthington have approved nearly $34 million in new borrowing to expand schools filled to overflowing in recent years by an influx of immigrants.

Voters in the Worthington-area school district had rejected five similar measures since 2013, but approved a series of three questions on Tuesday.

Some residents had said racism played a role in those defeats. But members of a group that helped sink previous bond proposals say their opposition is fiscal, not racial.

The last referendum, in February, failed by only 17 votes.