Voters in the Parkland School District, residents of Upper Macungie, North Whitehall and South Whitehall townships, have decided not to increase their taxes to pay for a new library.

A ballot question in Tuesday's Municipal Election asked voters if the current library tax should be increased to 0.2978 mills to pay for a construction loan and for operation of the library until July 1, 2035, or until loan repayment, when the millage would decrease to 0.1895 mills.

According to Lehigh County Voter Registration Office unofficial results, 59 percent, 5,502 votes of the total 9,327, voted against the ballot question.

Forty-one percent, 3,825 voters, were in favor of the higher tax.

Parkland Community Library Board President Karl Siebert emailed The Press Wednesday morning with a comment on the referendum results.

"Of course, we are disappointed in the results," Siebert wrote. "We thought we had the numbers to win, but it depended on who came out to vote.

"Any time that you are trying to pass something associated with a tax increase, it is an uphill battle regardless of its great value and small cost.

"Despite the tax issue, there was a significant number of 'yes' votes in favor of the referendum.

"As we reflect on the results and decide our next steps, library services will remain the same. We thank the voters who did come out to support us and the many volunteers involved in the effort."