There are roughly 2,600 de facto Manteca city residents that could become real residents of the City of Manteca.

And — if it occurs — they won’t see their property tax bills increase but their monthly wastewater treatment charges are likely to drop.

San Joaquin County and the City of Manteca are actively exploring proposing a potential annexation of the 339 home Raymus Village northeast of Lathrop Road and Highway 99 as well as the 470-home plus Oakwood Shores community on the western end of Woodward Avenue.

If they were annexed today, the additional residents — along with growth within city limits this year — would send Manteca’s population past 100,000 people.

A key issue that would need to be reached before such an annexation would be presented to property owners for the required approval is the county splitting its share of property taxes 50-50 with the city as opposed to the 80 percent county/20 percent city split now in place for annexations.

State law years ago changed that keeps the overall property tax rate the same when homes and parcels are annexed into a city.

The various advantages of annexation:

*Both areas are already having their wastewater sent to the city’s treatment plant but are paying a higher out-of-city rate for doing so.

*The new fire station in southwest Manteca will be closer to Oakwood Shores than the Lathrop Manteca Fire station on South Union Road.

*There would be increased police presence and quicker response given Manteca Police and not the sheriff’s department would provide coverage. Currently, Manteca Police only respond in a mutual aid situation for a significant life threatening incident when deputies aren’t close by.

*The level of representation increases given Supervisor Sonny Dhaliwal represents more than 150,000 people while the two areas — if annexed — would be in two separate council districts with roughly 25,000 people each.

*They would have a greater voice as voting residents in the community most do the majority of their shopping and seek medical care as well as other activities.

*Raymus Village eventually will be in the path of Manteca’s growth to the northeast.

*Oakwood Shores is an urbanized area bordered by Manteca on the south and east, Lathrop north of the train tracks with no direct access to Lathrop and on the west by the rural Weatherbee Lake neighborhood as well as Turtle Beach Resort that back up to the San Joaquin River.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com