Citizen-led Measure C to go on November 2026 ballot

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Mayors from crossed Fresno County, alongside assemblage members, came unneurotic connected Wednesday to denote their program for a caller Measure C. The half-cent income taxation has funded proscription improvements implicit the past 40 years.

Measure C is expected to expire adjacent year, which means the main backing root for roadworthy enactment volition end.

Now, these mayors are proposing a caller program with a caller focus.

Repair potholes, hole section roads, harmless routes to school. These were the messages connected the signs during Wednesday's announcement.

They program to motorboat a caller run to get a renewal of "Measure C" connected the November ballot.

"This is not an municipality versus agrarian measure. This is not a northbound extremity versus southbound end; this is simply a proscription measurement for all," says Mayor Jerry Dyer, City of Fresno.

Unlike the expiring Measure C, which funded a caller interchange betwixt 41, 168 and 180, and extended 180 retired past Sanger, this Measure C includes nary backing for freeway expansion.

The immense majority, 65%, volition spell toward maintenance, astatine a outgo of $4.8 billion. 25% ($1.9 billion) volition money nationalist transit. 5% for determination connectivity, 4% for proscription innovation, and 1% for administration.

Rural communities successful towns similar Coalinga, Huron, and Mendota are a focal constituent of the measure. Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez says past proposals near his metropolis successful the rear-view mirror.

"For the past 25 years, we've received lone $5 cardinal to hole our roads, for 25 years. This plan, the City of Mendota volition beryllium a recipient of $60 million, and that's going to assistance america code and hole each those issues that we person successful the community," says Mayor Victor Martinez, City of Mendota.

In 1986, voters approved the archetypal Measure C.

It was renewed successful 2006. But voters rejected a renewal successful 2022, amid disapproval of its projected projects.

Since then, Fresno County officials person debated however to revise the proposal, but those discussions person stalled.

"Their constituent was precise blunt and nonstop to america who cares astir buses, we don't usage them. I deliberation the days of 3 aged guys dictating the aboriginal of nationalist transit and transit for millions radical are down us," says Councilmember Miguel Arias, City of Fresno.

Councilmember Arias called retired County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld by name, saying helium chose not to enactment their connection to a vote, forcing them to prosecute a citizen-led measure.

Bredefeld is captious of the caller plan.

"The measurement C's successful the past person worked, but this 1 has been hijacked by a clump of left-wing radicals who privation to get radical retired of their cars and riding bicycles and buses and electrical scooters to work. That's what this is each about. They don't enactment the indispensable magnitude of wealth to hole streets and roads," says Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, Fresno County.

Supporters enactment that backing nationalist transit has agelong been portion of Measure C, and this mentation lone increases backing by 1%.

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