A majority of Whitehall Township residents voted to approve a real estate tax increase to fund open space acquisition and preservation.

According to the results of the primary election April 23, 54.22% - 2,376 voters - answered yes to this referendum question: Do you favor the imposition of a 0.05 mill increase to Whitehall Township’s real estate tax to be used as authorized by the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Preservation Act?

A total of 45.78% - 2,006 voters - answered no.

The results, according to the Lehigh County website, remain unofficial.

The Whitehall Township Open Space referendum was intended to create a fund for investment in open space preservation.

According to Ordinance 3333, “Whitehall Township proposes to amend the township’s real estate tax to impose an additional 0.05 mill for the limited purpose of preserving or acquiring land for open space uses to meet needs for recreation, amenity and conservation of natural resources, including farm land, forests and a pure and adequate water supply.”

The fund would be created by payments from township residential property owners and businesses - specifically, a fee of 0.05 real estate millage.

The annual impact to a home assessed at $200,000 is expected to cost an additional $10.

Residents’ payments are expected to begin in 2025. The funding would be available in 2026.

It is estimated the open space fund will realize up to $114,000 per year.

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Preservation Act funding will have restricted uses. It can be used, for example, to preserve land in conjunction with the Lehigh County Agricultural Preservation Program and purchase land for township preservation and recreation that does not qualify for the Lehigh County Agricultural Preservation Program or other land trusts.

In addition, 25% of the annual funds can be used to improve and maintain existing open spaces such as Jordan Creek or Whitehall Parkway.

The open space funds cannot be used to repair the township pools or purchase new equipment for the existing parks.

A “yes” vote indicated support for the 0.05 mill increase in the Whitehall Township real estate tax to fund the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Preservation Act.