You’ll be paying a little bit extra for taxable items starting today whether it’s retail purchases, vehicles, gasoline, of when you’re dining out.

The 20-year temporary three-quarter of a cent approved by voters in November is now in effect.

And if you think you can escape paying an extra $150 on a $20,000 car by buying one outside of Manteca, guess again.

State law requires sales tax on car sales to be assessed at the rate of  the jurisdiction where it is being “garaged” or basically where the buyer resides.

It brings the Manteca sales tax to 9 percent

Of that:

*0.5 percent is for Measure K for countywide road and transportation projects.

*0.5 percent is for Measure M for Manteca public safety personnel.

*0.75 percent is for Measure Q, the 20 year Manteca general tax.

*7.25 percent is the state sales tax which Manteca receives 1 percent.

The city has already made moves to secure two needed fire engines and six patrol vehicles knowing they can spend money from reserves that will be backfilled with Measure Q receipts.

It’s a combined expenditure of roughly $2.5 million.

The sales tax is projected to generate $13.9 million a year.

Fire engines today have upwards of a three year lead time from when an order is placed and delivered.

One was an engine that became available when another jurisdiction cancelled an order.

Manteca could be taking delivery of it within the coming months. It will replace a frontline engine whose reliability has deteriorated. 

The second engine has been ordered for the sixth fire station being built in southwest Manteca.

It should arrive just as the station is finished in four years from now.

As an added bonus by paying for it now, the delivery price is locked in.

The new police patrol vehicles, which may take as long as until October to be delivered, will replace existing units with high mileage and numerous days being out of service for repairs.

Currently, there are shifts when police officers have to double up in one unit as there are not enough vehicles in running order.

When that happens the department’s ability to have maximum patrol coverage is compromised.

The entire council has made it clear that the bulk off Measure Q funds need to provide tangible things that people can see where their money is going such as a new police station, improved streets and new fire engines.

The council also wants to see a portion of it used for economic development not only to generate more local jobs but also create additional sales tax sources to fund municipal services.

It may also be used to address pressing personnel needs such as 18 additional firelighters.

The big ticket items in the running for priority projects will be addressed by setting aside $6 million for debt service on what could potentially be 18-year bonds.

The last payment would coincide with the end of the 20-year tax.

The projects expected to be prioritized are:

*the new police station.

*Manteca’s sixth fire station that will be built in the southwest portion of the city.

*expansion of the animal shelter at Wetmore and Main streets.

*a community park and a new swimming pool.

*possibly a seventh fire station.

The sixth fire station might not need Measure Q tax receipts if adequate funding is in the growth fee account by the time ground breaks and if the city is able to secure the needed land at no cost via developer’s donation.

The next community park envisioned for Manteca north or northeast of Del Webb— will also be able to tap into community park growth fees currently on hand and what will be collected in the coming years from new home starts.

The spending plan being cobbled together is based on annually using a minimum of $2,663,000 from growth fees currently accumulated in — and will be added to — the government facilities fee account.

When all is said and done, roughly $40 million in constant 2025 dollars will be spent on road work in addition to what funding sources the city already taps.

Priority projects will be bolstered by $40 million, and $20 million will be spent on  quality-of-life projects.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com