Celebration was in the air last night as Measure A supporters let out a sigh of relief in what seems to be a strong favoring of reinstating the park-maintenance tax.

According to semi-official results released shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday night, 82.7 percent of the votes were in support of Measure A. A total of 13,324 votes were counted with 11,019 yes votes and 2,305 no votes, with only 17.3 percent opposing the measure, according to the Placer County Elections Division Web site.

The results are considered semi-official because some ballots still remain to be counted. The Placer County Elections Division estimates that less than 100 ballots have yet to be counted for various reasons, but once counted, they would add less than 0.4 percent to the final turnout figures.

For the past 20 years, Rocklin residents have been paying an annual fee of up to $30, which went to the maintenance of Rocklin’s 30 parks. In 2008, the park-maintenance tax came before Rocklin voters asking residents to increase the fee to $45 a year. The ballot was approved by 60 percent, but that wasn’t enough for the tax to take effect — a two-thirds majority vote was needed.

With this tax, which voters have approved to continue for 10 years, brings relief to Measure A supporters.

“It’s just an exciting time, we had a grassroots campaign,” said Paul Ruhkala, co-chair of Rocklin Citizens for Quality Parks, in support of Measure A. “We’re really proud of all the people of Rocklin.”

Approximately 30 people from the group showed up at Woody’s Grill & Bar in Rocklin to celebrate the all-mail election results.

For more than three months, the group has been campaigning, letting residents know how important they feel parks are.

“Parks and recreation are very, very important to the kids in our community,” Ruhkala said, remembering a time when he was a child and Rocklin only housed a couple parks.

Diana Ruslin, also a co-chair of Rocklin Citizens for Quality Parks, said it would have been tough to take if the measure didn’t pass.

“They’re part of our community,” she said. “It’s a quality of life for our community in Rocklin.”

Within the last few months leading up to Election Day, The Placer Herald saw a large influx of readers’ opinions regarding Measure A.

Isabel Lopez, one of the youth leaders for Rocklin Youths for Parks — Yes on Measure A, shared her views with the community through a letter to the editor. She credits parks as part of her smooth transition from the Bay Area to Rocklin.

“Not only did that (joining Rocklin Little League baseball) help with the transition to living here, but I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people in my community and make so many great memories on the baseball fields,” she wrote.

Those opposed to the measure, like Placer County Republicans Chairman Tom Hudson, who helped write the ballot argument against the measure, have argued that the annual fee would be unnecessary if the city found other ways to cut park maintenance funds.

“If the reason you can’t afford routine park maintenance is because you are paying more to mow the lawns, then you need to go out there and change your business model,” Hudson told The Placer Herald recently.

But Rocklin voters have made their opinions known.

“It’s important enough that the citizens have spoken — they really enjoy their parks,” Ruhkala said.

The law allows 28 days after the election to complete the ballot tally. The Placer County Elections Division is working toward releasing certified results by 5 p.m. tomorrow. Check placerherald.com for final results as they become available.

Lauren Weber can be reached at laurenw@goldcountrymedia.com.