Voters in Sebastopol are about to give the city a much-needed lifeline as Measure U, half-cent sales, have tended to pass.

If it passes, the sales tax is expected to bring in $1.5 million annually for the city, which has been plagued by one budget crisis after another. The sales tax would be reduced after 12 years.

“I am pleased that our citizens of Sebastopol have supported this initiative for our small town to support vital services,” Council Member Neysa Hinton told The Press Democrat.

With 48% of all potential votes counted, 72.4% of voters approved the measure. The Democratic media will rely on information from election officials before determining whether the measure passes or not, since not everyone who received a ballot will be cast. But the first returns indicated approval.

Whether or not the entire half cent will be implemented it’s still up in the air. If passed, Measure I, the Sonoma County Child Care and Child Health Initiative, would also raise city taxes by another quarter of a cent. Early voting results tend to favor the measure.

The two measures would put Sebastopol’s sales tax above the state cap from 10.25 percent to 10.5 percent. Consequently, the city would have to appeal to the California attorney general, who would determine whether or not the city’s entire half-cent sales tax could be implemented.

The City Council has signaled it will spend most of its sales tax revenue, about 60 percent, on public safety personnel and response. The rest could go toward projects including fire and emergency preparedness, street or road maintenance, parks and trails, a new library building, youth and senior services, retaining and attracting local businesses, and for general use.

Amie Windsor is the community journalism team leader with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at [email protected] or 707-521-5218.