SNOHOMISH — Voters appeared Tuesday to be approving a sales-tax increase that would pave roads and fund a couple of major projects.

Initial returns showed Proposition No. 1 being approved by 57 percent of voters, with about 43 percent opposed.

Early Tuesday night, officials had counted 1,167 ballots in the race.

The proposition would raise the sales tax in Snohomish by 0.2 percent to 8.8 percent. The estimated $660,000 annual revenue would be used to maintain 41 miles of city streets and fund projects to improve traffic flow. The projects are a roundabout at the intersection of Avenue D, Bickford Avenue and 15th Street, and a turning lane at the intersection of 30th Street and Highway 9.

The measure was placed on the ballot by the City Council earlier this year, which cited a need to raise $500,000 a year for street maintenance.

It will be 75 days after certification of the election before the state Department of Revenue starts collecting the new money. Snohomish would receive the money approximately 135 days after certification.

The sales tax would be in effect for the 10 years.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.