Measure Q’s impact may be shaping up to be bigger than anticipated.

The city in the first three months  — April, May, and June — of the 20-year three-quarter cent sales tax being in place collected $3.67 million.

Historically, the second quarter and the third quarter that stretch from April through September, represents middle-of-the-road consumer spending on taxable items.

The first quarter consisting of January, February, and March is normally the weakest.

October through December that encompasses the fourth quarter and the holiday season is the strongest.

If the first quarterly payments end up being average for Measure Q sales tax receipts, Manteca is on pace to collect $14.68 million a year.

This is significant given the City Council in February instructed City Manager Toni Lundgren to devise an annual Measure Q spending plan of just under $12 million.

The biggest expense in that general framework is $6 million a year in debt service for 18 year bonds to build public facilities.

Manteca collects fees  for government facilities to the maximum level allowed under state law and court decisions that is considered the fair share for growth to cover based on the need growth creates.

The challenge has been to cover the balance of facility costs that can be attributed to the needs of existing population.

Measure Q will effectively plug much, if not all, of the gap for specific projects.

Topping the list of project priorities are a new police station and a sixth fire station that will be built in southwest Manteca.

After that, in descending city priority as of February, are expansion of the animal shelter, a new community park and swimming pool, and a seventh fire station.

The projects etched in the proverbial stone — the police station and sixth fire station — are already in the early  development stages. The police station is expected to break ground in 2026.

The 18 year bonds will be timed to be paid off when the Measure Q tax expires.

Measure Q funds will be augmented with $2,663,000 annual in government facilities fees collect from growth.

That is in addition to more than $20 million in government facilities fees already collected that will serve effectively as a source of a “downpayment” on projects.

The first two years of the Measure Q sales tax that would have set aside $6 million a year for bond repayment is  essentially being used in part to address  public safety equipment and vehicle deficiencies as well as short falls for street projects already approved but not fully funded.

Between three fire engines, 20 police vehicles, updated breathing apparatus for firefighters, new body cameras and other equipment for officers, there has been more than $5 million in expenditures being made.

The rest , so far, is going to street work not being funded.

The annual basic framework for 20 years of Measure Q spending includes:

*$6 million for debt repayment for bonds to build public facilities.

*$2 million in street work not funded by existing sources.

*$2 million to fund various city projects that have partial funding identified.

*$1 million for smaller, quality of life projects, as determined by the council.

*$850,000 to augment existing funding for police and fire equipment, vehicles, and manpower

With the potential for $2.6 million more a year in Measure Q sales tax receipts than what was projected, the council could elect to increase funding for any other the categories.

There clearly would be a reserve of some sort whether it is for the bond repayment or any ongoing expense such as additional public safety employees,

But given everything is primarily one-time expenses, several council members in February made it clear they favored putting as much of Measure Q to work as soon as possible and keeping reserves at a minimum.

The initial $3.67 million collected in the second quarter that the state has issued Manteca a check will go toward backfilling other city funds — primarily reserves to make them whole after the council tapped them to order the fire engines and police vehicles.

In just three months, the city collected enough Measure Q funds to cover the cost of three replacement fire engines and almost all of the 20 plus new vehicles ordered on the strength of city voters approving Measure Q last November.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com