A 10-year extension on sales tax collections in Aberdeen for the repair of streets appears to be passing safely after a special election Tuesday.

The initial count was 911 to 736, for a 55.31 percent approval rating. The tax needs a simple majority.

More votes will arrive by mail in coming days and if the lead holds up, the current sales tax that supports the city’s road and sidewalk improvement projects, classified as the Transportation Benefit District, would go up from 13 to 18 cents for every $100 of taxable goods.

That includes purchases by both residents and visitors to Aberdeen.

In February 2013, Aberdeen voters approved a six-year 13 cents per $100 sales tax increase to fund the street improvements program. Between July 2013 and the end of 2018, the tax has generated a little under $3 million in revenue total, and almost all of it has been spent on transportation projects — primarily road pavings.

The current tax is set to expire in June 2019, and last year the Aberdeen City Council passed a recommendation to send the 10-year extension with the raised cost to voters.