Fresno Co. takes long look in mirror ahead of second-effort Measure C renewal

In 1985 the people of Fresno agreed to a road tax.  In 2006, then again agreed to a road tax.  But, in 2022, after 37 years of the road tax, the people of Fresno had enough and voted NO on extending the road tax.  They saw how the money was used and going to be used.  The said a resounding NO.

But bureaucrats never take No for an answer if they want to take money from you.  So, they are planning another tax vote—at a cost to the taxpayers who said NO.

“What they’re saying: “People want their streets and they want their roads fixed, period. Beginning and end. I didn’t hear people when I walked to 21,000 doors tell me about bicycles or buses,” Bredefeld said. “They said, ‘When are you going to fix my streets?’ If this isn’t emphasized in this measure, I’m not going to support it. And I want Measure C to pass this time.” 

• Bredefeld continued, “I would also encourage you not to focus on the environmental justice advocates who are not interested in really getting anything passed but have their own political agenda. This failed largely with conservative voters in north Fresno and in Clovis, and I would suggest that you pay close attention to why it is that they voted no so that they will vote yes. And I think part of it has to do with streets and roads and all of that.” 

The people of Fresno are smart.  They understand tax dollars used for bike lanes are a waste.  They want roads fixed—if the plan is not to fix roads, they will continue to say NO.

Fresno Co. takes long look in mirror ahead of second-effort Measure C renewal

Fresno County is taking a second shot at renewing its marquee road tax before it expires in 2027.

by Daniel Gligich, The Sun,  4/23/25    https://sjvsun.com/news/fresno/fresno-co-takes-long-look-in-mirror-ahead-of-second-effort-measure-c-renewal/

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors want next year’s iteration of the Measure C renewal effort to focus on local roads in order to receive enough of the vote to pass. 

Without a renewal in 2026, Fresno County will be without its long-standing transportation and infrastructure tax which has resulted in billions of dollars of improvements and projects throughout the region. 

The backstory: Measure C was first passed by voters in 1985 and was renewed in 2006 for another 20-year term. 

• The Fresno County Transportation Authority attempted to move ahead with a 30-year extension to the half-cent sales tax three years ago, which would have been implemented in 2027. But voters shot it down. Needing a two-thirds vote, Measure C only received 58.2% of the vote in 2022. 
• The 2022 effort was controversial, to say the least, with stark battle lines drawn that saw both Republicans and Democrats oppose the measure for their own reasons. 
• The CIty of Fresno especially drew the ire of the county last time around by pushing through a last-minute proposal that significantly decreased the county’s pot of Measure C funds while increasing funding for each incorporated city within the county, while progressive social justice groups made noise complaining that the initiative was not nearly equitable enough for minority communities. 

The big picture: The Fresno Council of Governments provided a Measure C update to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, and most of the conversation centered on crafting the measure to focus on roads instead of other forms of transportation. 

• Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, who serves with Supervisor Buddy Mendes on the Fresno County Transportation Authority, spoke about the most recent meeting, saying it is imperative to prioritize streets. 
• Kendall Flint, a project manager with DKS Associates who is contracted to work on getting the measure passed, said the focus in other communities that she has worked in on transportation measures – including Madera County – was putting a vast majority of the money toward roads. Madera County’s Measure T, which passed last year, puts over 80% of its funding toward roads. 

What they’re saying: “People want their streets and they want their roads fixed, period. Beginning and end. I didn’t hear people when I walked to 21,000 doors tell me about bicycles or buses,” Bredefeld said. “They said, ‘When are you going to fix my streets?’ If this isn’t emphasized in this measure, I’m not going to support it. And I want Measure C to pass this time.” 

• Bredefeld continued, “I would also encourage you not to focus on the environmental justice advocates who are not interested in really getting anything passed but have their own political agenda. This failed largely with conservative voters in north Fresno and in Clovis, and I would suggest that you pay close attention to why it is that they voted no so that they will vote yes. And I think part of it has to do with streets and roads and all of that.” 
• Supervisor Nathan Magsig said he is more interested in good pavement rather than dedicated bike lanes, noting that Fresno County has more county road miles to maintain than Fresno County. 
• Mendes took a shot at the previous effort and emphasized the need for actually listening to the needs of the county’s residents, saying, “the last process turned into gang warfare more than actually taking public comment.”