With the first wave of ballots counted Tuesday night, the Tahoma School District construction bond measure did not have enough votes for approval, grabbing about 51 percent.

When the first set of results were posted shortly after 8 p.m., 9,625 votes had been cast in the mail-in election, with 4,940 checking “Approve” on the ballot for 51.34 percent while 4,682 had voted to reject the measure.

A construction bond requires a super-majority or 60 percent approval rate to pass.

The district is seeking approval of a $125 million bond measure that would pay for a number of projects including building a new Lake Wilderness Elementary, a fifth elementary school, additional classroom space at Tahoma High, an auditorium that would be used as a lecture hall and performing arts space and  significant maintenance at a number of buildings in the school district among other projects.

Results will be posted again at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.