Mayor Jerry Dyer won’t submit a Fresno-only sales tax for the November 2026 ballot after AB 1923 cleared the countywide Better Roads, Safe Streets measure. NICK FENLEY nfenley@fresnobee.com
City of Fresno voters are likely to see only one local tax measure on the November ballot.
Mayor Jerry Dyer on Thursday afternoon said he won’t take action on a city-only general sales tax, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state law allowing for a countywide measure to appear.
Earlier Thursday, Newsom signed AB 1923 — the hastily written and passed bill introduced Monday by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, D-Fresno, and state Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced — which will allow the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative on the November ballot. The countywide tax measure is a half-cent that would succeed the expiring Measure C.
“Now that the governor and Legislature have ensured the citizen-led initiative will appear on the November 2026 ballot, moving forward with both measures may cause confusion for voters and ultimately jeopardize this important investment,” Dyer said in a statement.
“Therefore, the city of Fresno’s sales tax measure will not be submitted to the county clerk to be placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot.”
The law bypasses the authority of the Fresno County supervisors to place items on the ballot. Last month, the supervisors ordered a financial impact study, that would have delayed the BRSS plan until March 2028. The state law now returns the measure to the November ballot.
City had backup plan
Fearing a lack of tax funds for transportation projects, the Fresno City Council voted July 30 to place a city-only tax measure on the November ballot. Instead of specifically used for transportation projects, it would go to the general fund, where it could be spent in any manner by the city council. A general fund tax measure from the government only needs a majority of voters to approve; a specific tax needs two-thirds approval.
The Fresno-only tax measure had a provision to expire in 10 years, or if a countywide tax measure passed.
The 10-day window when Dyer could veto the bill expires Monday. He tells The Bee he will not use the option, which means technically the tax measure will be approved. The measure will be sent to the county clerk, but it will miss the Friday deadline to appear on the ballot. Because the city’s measure was specific for the November ballot, it will not appear at a future election.
The move is somewhat of a gambit for Dyer. Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld said the county would initiate litigation against AB 1923, a move that could come as early as Tuesday, the next supervisor board meeting. If the lawsuit prevails, or there is an injunction, it could affect the BRSS plan.
“Based on information provided to my office there is very little likelihood of any type of court action being successful in terms of keeping the Better Roads, Safe Streets measure off of the November 2026 ballot,” Dyer said.
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David Taub joined the Fresno Bee in 2026 after reporting 10 years for digital publication GV Wire. He has worked in the Fresno market since 2007. Prior to moving to the Central Valley, he worked for TV and radio stations on the Central Coast. He has also worked behind the scenes in local TV and radio. During his career, he has covered City Hall, the state Capitol, the White House and several houses of government in between. When not in a reporting capacity, he works tracking stats for the Fresno Grizzlies as an official scorekeeper, and also with televised basketball and football games. He has worked the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and several MLB games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue!