Measure S Is the Only Real Transportation Fix on November’s Ballot
Fresno County voters are being told they have two transportation measures on the ballot this November.
Read the fine print. That is simply not true.
The City of Fresno is pitching its proposed half-cent sales tax as a road repair fix. But look at the actual legal language on the ballot:
“The tax is a general tax whose proceeds shall be deposited in the City’s general fund and expended for any lawful purposes of the City.”
That is not a transportation plan. It is a blank check. While city leaders promise the money will go toward filling potholes, a general tax can’t legally bind future city councils. Once that money hits the General Fund, it can be spent on anything City Hall decides, with zero legal recourse for taxpayers. If taxpayers want guaranteed road repairs, real oversight, protected transit funding, safer routes to school and work, and a boost to our local economy, there is only one measure that legally delivers: Measure S.
General Fund vs. Guaranteed Action
| Feature | Fresno City Sales Tax Measure | Fresno County Measure S |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Structure | General Sales Tax (Half-Cent) | Dedicated Special Tax (Half-cent continuation) |
| The Legal Reality | Funds go into the City’s discretionary General Fund | Legally locked in a dedicated Transportation Trust Fund |
| Enforceability | City Hall promises to spend it on roads | Mandated by law: Diverting funds is illegal |
| Public Oversight | Standard internal municipal reporting | 11-member Independent Citizens Oversight Committee + Public Database |
| Voter Threshold | Simple Majority (50% + 1) | Simple Majority (50% + 1) |
| What It Funds | General city operations and discretionary spending | Fixes roads county-wide, 150 Safe Routes to School, 120 miles of bikeways, improves rural roads & provides free transit for seniors, students, people with disabilities, and veterans. |
Measure S is not a new tax.
It is an updated, voter-driven continuation of the half-cent sales tax that keeps Fresno County moving. Thousands of Fresno County taxpayers created this new version of the transportation tax with their ideas, recommendations and lived experiences that will fix our roads, create safe streets, and improve our economy.
Unlike a general sales tax, Measure S establishes politician-proof guardrails:
- Locked-In Funding: Every dollar is legally mandated for transportation infrastructure. Diverting these funds for non-transportation purposes is illegal under California law.
- Aggressive Independent Oversight: An 11-member public committee reviews all expenditures, conducts annual public audits, and tracks every project in an open database accessible to every Fresno County resident.
- Protecting Kids and Commuters: Measure S dedicates funding to build 150 Safe Routes to School projects, construct 120 miles of protected bike paths and walkways, and provide free transit for students, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.
- Critical Lifelines for Rural Communities: It repairs deteriorating roads in rural and agricultural areas, ensuring fire crews and emergency responders can reach families when every second counts.
- Proven Economic Impact: An independent economic analysis shows Measure S will create an estimated 68,000 jobs and inject $13.5 billion into our local economy over the next 30 years.
Good intentions don’t pave roads, but legally binding contracts do.
Fresno taxpayers can’t afford to settle for vague promises and unprotected general funds. If we are going to invest our hard-earned dollars into our infrastructure, we need ironclad guarantees, total transparency, and independent oversight.
That is what Measure S delivers.
Learn the facts about Measure S:
Better Roads Safe Streets Fresno: What You Need to Know
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