Whether consumers buying taxable goods in Manteca for the next 20 years will be paying an extra three-quarter of a cent tax on every dollar spent when Jan. 1 rolls around, likely won’t be known for at least another week.

The latest count released Friday has Measure Q ahead by 380 votes. That’s down from a 1,245 lead on Wednesday when 51.39 percent of the votes tallied at that point favored the temporary tax hike.

The approval percentage is now at 50.85 percent.

A majority plus one affirmative votes is required for the tax measure to pass.

The last sales tax measure — Measure Z for an additional once cent hike that had no sunset clause — failed by 1,221 votes in 2020.

The tallying of votes is a lengthy process due to two factors.

There is typically a surge in ballots either placed in drop boxes or mailed in the last few days prior to the election.

Ballots received earlier had signatures verified so they could be counted after the polls closed Tuesday along with in-person voting.

The remaining ballots must he verified by hand by matching with voter signatures on file.

The next count update will be next week.

As of Friday, the count reflects ballots cast by 46.3 percent of all registered voters throughout San Joaquin County.

There is no way  of knowing where the remaining ballots are from.

 Overall, the county has 378,657 registered voters.

As of Friday, 175,185 ballots have been counted.

If there was a 70 percent turnout — which would be high — it would mean there would be 89,870 votes left to count.

Again, that assumes a high 70 percent turnout.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com