Fresno City Mayor Jerry Dyer is joined by City Council President Nelson Esparza, councilmember Mike Karbassi, City Manager Georgeanne White and other city leaders in announcing a proposed half-cent sales tax to replace Measure C.
CRAIG KOHLRUSS
ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
City of Fresno voters will decide in November whether to approve a general services tax that city officials say would generate about $65 million a year to be used for transportation, public safety and infrastructure.
In late July, Fresno City Council approved placing the half-cent sales tax on the ballot amid uncertainty about whether a citizen-led half-cent transportation tax measure known as Better Roads, Safe Streets (Measure S) would be placed on the November ballot due to legal and political pushback from Fresno County.
City officials said they couldn’t risk losing out on $56 million annually of Measure C transportation tax funds if the citizen-led Measure S didn’t make on the ballot. Without this source of revenue, the city would lose crucial funds for street paving and public transit, and would likely have to reduce Fresno’s public transit services and cut around 217 jobs, officials estimate.
That citizen-led countywide measure, a renewal of the Measure C tax, will be on November’s ballot.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is asking voters to vote “yes” on both measures. In an interview with The Bee, he acknowledged the confusion of having two tax-related measures but said they’re not competing measures.
“We’ve clearly spelled out in our ballot language — that voters will be able to see — that if, in fact, Measure S passes, and Measure D passes, that Measure S will take priority,” Dyer said. “So they won’t be double taxed.”
This proposed tax would sunset within 10 years or when the County of Fresno adopts a transportation special sales tax of equal or greater tax rate for which the City of Fresno is a recipient, according to an impartial analysis prepared by City Attorney Andrew Janz.
The current sales tax rate in the City of Fresno is 8.35% and would remain at that level if Measure D is approved, the analysis says. Measure D requires a simple majority to pass, or 50% + 1 vote.
What will Measure D fund?
There’s no spending plan yet for the estimated $65 million in anticipated annual revenue if Measure D passes.
According to the impartial analysis, revenue generated by this tax would go to the city’s general fund “and be available to be used for any City purpose, including but not limited to funding police, fire, and 9-1-1 emergency services, maintaining and improving roads, streets, sidewalks, and other City facilities and programs, and paying for other City services and obligations.”
Dyer said that spending decisions for this revenue would take place during the city’s annual budget process. His priority, if Measure D passes, it to make sure the city doesn’t lose any public works or Fresno Area Express employees and that the city is able to continue to provide the same level — or better — of street repair and public transportation service.
“That’s going to be the primary focus, foundationally, first and foremost, and then secondarily is to be able to enhance both our fire and police services, depending on what funding is available for that,” Dyer said.
According to the impartial analysis, if Measure D passes, “all spending of the additional revenue generated by this tax would be subject to public disclosure, independent audit requirements, and citizen oversight.”
But there’s no way to ensure future administrations would spend the money according to this proposal.
“As long as I’m the mayor of Fresno, I can assure people that the money is going to be utilized in the manner in which we said it would be, but I can’t speak for future mayors or future councils,“ he said.
Who supports Measure D?
Measure D is supported by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Fresno City Council. Both have also endorsed Measure S.
Who opposes Measure D?
Measure D is opposed by the Libertarian Party of Fresno County.
What does the ballot language say?
APPROVAL OF FRESNO PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE RESTORATION, AND CITY SERVICES TAX ORDINANCE
The proposed ordinance would impose a 0.5% [half-cent per dollar] sales and use tax within the City of Fresno for a period of 10 years or upon implementation of a County of Fresno transportation infrastructure tax, whichever occurs first. It is estimated to raise approximately $65 million annually while retaining City of Fresno’s current tax rate. Proceeds would belong to the City of Fresno and could not be taken by, and would not be shared with, the State, County, or any other agency. As a general tax, revenues raised would be directed into the City’s general fund and be available for any general City purpose, including but not limited to transportation infrastructure, repairing streets, roads and sidewalks, building safe routes to schools, providing public safety and assisting 9-1- emergency response, maintaining public transportation systems, local airports, and other general services provided by the City.
Read the complete resolution language here.
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Melissa Montalvo is The Fresno Bee’s accountability reporter. Prior to this role, she covered Latino communities for The Fresno Bee as the part of the Central Valley News Collaborative. She also reported on labor, economy and poverty through newsroom partnerships between The Fresno Bee, Fresnoland and CalMatters as a Report for America Corps member.