The battle lines are already drawn in the effort to renew Measure C, Fresno County’s half-cent transportation tax.
The end result of the entire process will likely be a citizen-led ballot measure – possibly multiple – in order to lower the threshold to get a transportation infrastructure tax passed.
Flashback: Fresno County voters passed Measure C in 1985 and renewed it for another 20-year term in 2005.
- Three years ago the Fresno County Transportation Authority attempted a 30-year extension of Measure C, but it fell short of the two-thirds required vote at 58.2%.
- Opposition from social justice groups and nonprofits – led by the Central Valley Community Foundation and Building Healthy Communities – succeeded in pressing north Fresno and Clovis conservative voters to vote down the tax.
Driving the news: Last week, the Fresno Council of Governments provided an update on Measure C to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, with the discussion from the board focusing on ensuring that at least 80% of the measure’s funding gets put toward roads, instead of other transit options such as bike lanes.
What they’re saying: Former Fresno Unified trustee Brooke Ashjian, who was appointed to the Council of Governments’ Measure C steering committee as a representative for the City of Fresno, went on Power Talk on Monday afternoon to discuss getting the tax extended.
- Ashjian said the real issue with the renewal attempt will be getting past the two-thirds vote threshold, saying, “Which in today’s economy and society is damn near impossible – just doesn’t exist. It’s very very hard to break that threshold.”
- The option that would have a better chance of passing, per Ashjian, would be for a citizen-led initiative to be placed on the ballot through signature gathering. Such an initiative would need a simple majority vote to pass.
- “It’s going to take a private initiative, in my opinion, to get this thing done at 50 plus one,” Ashjian said.
What we’re watching: Along with Ashjian, the Measure C Steering Committee consists of representatives from every other incorporated city in the county and a representative from the county itself.
- Other organizations also have seats on the committee, including the Central Valley Community Foundation – led by former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin – the Fresno Recycling Club, the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women and other groups.
- Building Healthy Communities was not given a seat at the table, yet the progressive advocacy group is pushing for a transportation tax of its own.
- Building Healthy Communities’ countermeas ure promises to focus on public transit, sidewalks, bike paths and environmental concerns.
- Such a measure would also need a simple majority vote, leading to the possibility of three measures on the 2026 ballot: a Fresno Council of Governments-led Measure C renewal (which would need a two-thirds vote), a prospective Building Healthy Communities-led measure, and a third prospective citizens initiative.
