Measure BB in San Clemente asked voters to approve a half-percent sales tax hike to fund sand replenishment, ocean water quality and infrastructure projects along the city’s nearly 5-mile coastline.

If passed, Measure BB would raise the city’s sales tax to 8.25% and yield an estimated $6.75 million annually solely for such projects.

With more than half of the ballots tallied by Thursday afternoon, the initiative was more than three percentage points shy of the 67% threshold needed to pass.

“I’m encouraged that we had a majority of residents supporting this,” said Cameron Cosgrove, a Measure BB campaign leader. “We are within striking distance of the supermajority, which is really encouraging.”

San Clemente residents have already had the opportunity to see beach nourishment in action this year.

After an initial delay, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversaw a federally supported sand replenishment project in April that pumped an initial 114,000 cubic yards of sand near San Clemente Pier.

Construction crews resumed work in late October to finish the project’s first phase by pumping an additional 86,000 cubic yards of sand.

Once completed, the Army Corps will continue to replenish beach sand around the pier every five or six years for the next 50 years…