Nevada City's roads stand to get some long-needed attention from Measure S, which was winning as of last night.

With two of three precincts reporting, 923 votes (81 percent) were cast in favor of Measure S, while 217 votes (19 percent) were opposed. The measure required two-thirds voter approval to pass.

"Residents have really done something exceptional for our community," Paul Matson, co-chair of the Citizens Committee to Fix Our Streets, said Tuesday night.

Supporters for the sales tax to fund road repairs crowded around a table at Fred's Szechuan restaurant in Nevada City, watching the election returns on a laptop.

"Yeah!" said Nevada City councilmember Barbara Coffman after initial results were released.

Added Mayor Steve Cottrell, "I look forward to the next five years of putting the streets and sidewalks back in the order the citizens deserve."

Measure S, the half-cent sales tax for road repairs, is expected to raise $7.2 million throughout 16 years by increasing Nevada City's sales tax from 7.375 percent to 7.875 percent..

Measure S faced little public opposition. An argument in favor of the ballot measure was included in voter information packets for Nevada City residents, but no argument was written against it.

An error by the Nevada County Elections Office, however, sent Nevada City residents the expenditure plan for Grass Valley's Measure T. Measure S supporters had worried that could hurt its chances.

Campaigners for Measure S, led by the Citizens Committee to Fix Our Streets, also had feared some residents would consider the ballot measure unnecessary after the summer's repaving of Boulder Street and nearby roads.

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To reach Staff Writer Josh Singer, e-mail joshs@theunion .com or call 477-4234.