The proposed Better Roads, Safe Streets transportation measure is now on hold after Fresno County supervisors voted Tuesday to order a study of the initiative instead of immediately placing it on the November ballot.

The decision came down to a 3-2 vote during Tuesday’s Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The board’s decision was welcomed by those who opposed the measure, who argued more review was needed before asking voters to decide.

But supporters of the initiative say the move is nothing more than a delay tactic that could keep the measure off the November ballot.

The initiative now faces an August 7 deadline to qualify for this year’s election.

However, the review is expected to take up to 30 days, putting that timeline in question.

Following the vote, tensions rose inside the boardroom.

A person could be heard yelling things out as Supervisor Garry Bredefeld struck the gavel and told them to leave.

At the time, people were storming out after the final vote came out.

Supporters of the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative walked out of the meeting frustrated, saying the decision blocked voters from having their say.

Outside the meeting, supporters gathered and vowed to continue pushing for the measure.

“We’re all going to work to make sure it passes,” one supporter said.

Some also criticized the board’s decision, with one person accusing supervisors of acting for political reasons.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said, “We haven’t lost yet. We’ll get it back in March of 2028 or sooner.”

However, not everyone viewed the board’s decision as a delay.

Local elected leaders who supported moving forward with a study said the review is about understanding the potential impacts of the measure before asking voters to decide.

Kingsburg Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Pursell said the discussion was not about whether someone supported or opposed the initiative.

“It’s about whether or not you’re going to do this study to get more of an impact,” Pursell said.

Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce argued the county has a responsibility to conduct additional review.

“The proponents of this measure are coming before you today, essentially asking you to bail them out and forego your responsibility to the people of the county of doing your due diligence with a county study on the impacts of this measure,” Pearce said.

Supervisors who supported the study, including Garry Bredefeld, Buddy Mendes, and Nathan Magsig, raised concerns about the measure’s language, potential impacts on Fresno County, and possible legal questions.

Meanwhile, Supervisors Luis Chavez and Brian Pacheco argued the decision should be left up to voters at the ballot box.

Despite the petition collecting more than 21,000 signatures, enough to qualify for the ballot, the board’s decision has put the initiative’s future in question.

The debate comes as Measure C, Fresno County’s current transportation funding source, is set to expire in 2027.

FOX26 asked Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer what happens to road repairs if new funding is not approved.

Dyer said, “I can tell you this, in the city of Fresno we passed a $100 million bond last year. It’s called ‘Pay More Now, Pay Less Later’ and we’re going to be okay for about another year in terms of paving streets and repairing sidewalks. Unfortunately, once that’s done, we’re going to be back to the status quo.”

If the measure does not make the November ballot, the next opportunity for a new transportation funding proposal would not come until 2028.