New Millage Rate Set for Proposed Parkland Library

The Parkland Community Library Board of Directors took a step forward Thursday night in its quest to build a new facility in Upper Macungie Township. 

In a release, the library said directors put into action a long-awaited financing plan, said to be in the $9 million to $10 million range, and continued with fine-tuning the voter referendum process.

That referendum, if approved by voters in November's general election, would put new library tax rate in effect.

Directors say, based on the current finance plan, the millage rate presented for the referendum amounts to 0.2978 mills -- $29.78 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value -- and would replace the current special library tax collected by the Parkland School District.

Voters would have to approve the referendum on the November Election Day ballot.

Earlier this year, directors pegged the estimated cost of the new library at close to $13 million.

"Naturally everyone is most interested in the new millage rate," said Karl Siebert, President of the Board of Parkland Community Library. "We are attempting to be sensitive to pocketbooks of residents and know that this rate will serve the new library much as the previous rate set over 15 years ago.

"The fact that Parkland Community Library maintained the same millage rate for all those years is a testament to the good management of the staff and the volunteer board who all are deeply committed to serving our community with a library and library services that have the capability of serving the present and future diverse needs of the growing Parkland community," Seibert said. 

The proposed new library was dealt a setback in June when a Lehigh County judge ruled in favor of the Parkland School District's decision to lower the Parkland Community library tax from 0.3 mills to 0.1 mills.

Earlier this year, Library Executive Director Debbie Jack said she "wouldn't rule out," a November groundbreaking if the referendum passes.