As of Thursday afternoon, 55 percent of the ballots cast in Island County’s primary election approved Island Transit’s request for a three-tenths of 1 percent sales and use tax increase to support the free transit system’s services.

With victory secured, Martha Rose, director of Island Transit, couldn’t have been happier. The extra funds, estimated at $2.5 million annually, will be put to use as soon as the dough starts rolling in, she said Friday at a meeting of the transit board.

Although the money generated through the sales tax increase will total more than the transit system’s current deficit, Rose said the surplus funds will go toward vehicles, rebuilding the capital reserve fund and service expansion.

“It’ll be more, but it’ll be going to get those vehicles replaced and to pay for the running and maintenance of older vehicles,” she said. “We’re five to six years behind on vehicle replacements to the tune of $6 million.”

Island Transit’s second priority for the new sales tax revenue will go toward capital reserves, which Rose would like to see at $2 million. Currently the reserve fund sits at $440,000, she said.

Last, but not least, Rose said Island Transit will look to expand its routes and services.

“It’s going to take awhile to get to the third priority,” Rose said. “That will happen slowly through a very careful evaluation process. We intend to maintain it and sustain it.”

With the down economy, Rose said route expansion will be the last priority on the list; however, she’s careful to add that riders continually request expanded hours and additional routes.

“We are still not back to our 2001 levels when the vehicle excise tax was cut,” she said, referring to Island Transit’s bygone Monday-through- Saturday bus schedule that ran longer hours.

Bus route and schedule changes will only occur after two to 10 years of careful evaluation, depending on the size and scope of the adjustment, she said.

Island Transit’s operating reserve won’t be left out, Rose cautioned. The operating reserve currently adds up to $1.3 million and officials aim to keep a 5 to 10 percent buffer in case of an emergency.

“You never know what might happen,” she said.