\u201cFresno County, we can do better than what is on the measure right now,\u201d Reedley Mayor Matthew Tuttle said. \u201cWe can do better than a flawed measure. We should have done better.\u201d<\/p>\n
An alternative plan that focused more money on roads did not garner enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The current tax, Measure C, raises about $160 million annually for Fresno County transportation projects.<\/p>\n
With legal obstacles overcome<\/a>, the 30-year half-cent general sales tax measure will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for Fresno County voters to consider. Measure S is projected to raise roughly $7.4 billion over its lifetime, with 65% dedicated to existing road repair, 25% to public transit, 4% to transit innovation, 4% to regional projects, 1% to oversight and 1% to the airport.<\/p>\n Measure S is a new tax but its passage would not raise the tax burden in Fresno County, as the existing half-cent transportation tax, Measure C, expires in 2027.<\/p>\n The plan\u2019s toughest critic, Chairman of the Fresno County Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, said that with $3 billion in deferred road maintenance throughout the county, the spending plan does not commit enough to fixing local roads to sufficiently address the issue.<\/p>\n He also dislikes that Measure S would require at least 120 miles of bike paths or lanes be constructed over its 30-year lifetime.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a public transportation tax disguised as a roads tax,\u201d Bredefeld said. \u201cLook now at the Tower District, Blackstone Avenue, Barstow Avenue between Cedar and First. They have already reduced car lanes and made bus and bike lanes that people don\u2019t use.\u201d<\/p>\n Supporters say that without Measure S, the county will lose millions of dollars in vital transportation funds and could face mass layoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was alluded that there would be some layoffs,\u201d Bredefeld said. \u201cBut the bottom line is this: A piece of crap is a piece of crap, and it\u2019s not better than having nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Measure S organizers point to broad coalition of supporters<\/p>\n Following the opposition campaign launch on Tuesday, Measure S organizers released a statement<\/a> pointing out the diverse group of supporters behind it, including some Republican mayors, like Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Clovis Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a reason Measure S has attracted widespread support across Fresno County,\u201d said Andy Levine, the measure\u2019s campaign manager. \u201cMayors and councilmembers representing large cities and small rural communities, along with business, labor and community leaders, support Measure S because their communities need dependable transportation funding and because the plan invests throughout the county.\u201d<\/p>\n The city councils of Fresno, Clovis, Mendota, Parlier, Huron and a few others have voted to formally support Measure S, also known as the \u201cBetter Roads, Safe Streets\u201d initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is only one solution on the ballot to fix potholes, repair neighborhood streets, and improve safety in Fresno County without raising taxes: Measure S,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n Opponents argued that the 4% of funds dedicated to regional projects isn\u2019t enough. Reedley Mayor Tuttle said that rural communities need funds for regional projects to improve Reed, Frankwood and Manning avenues.<\/p>\n There was also criticism over the change in oversight that Measure S would have compared to Measure C.<\/p>\n Measure C created the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) that approved how the tax revenue was spent and managed correctly. Measure S would eliminate FCTA and have the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) complete independent audits of all performance reports that each city and the county would be required to submit on tax revenues and expenditures.<\/p>\n Measure S would also expand a Citizen Oversight Committee, which would have the authority to review financial reports and recommend actions.<\/p>\n \u201cIn essence, the money will be allocated by the same radicals and environmental whackos who created the Measure S tax scam,\u201d Bredefeld said.<\/p>\n The opposition group agreed there is a need for some version of a county transportation tax measure to eventually succeed Measure C, but members oppose the idea that it\u2019s vital for one to be passed this election.<\/p>\n There was an alternative transportation tax created to compete with Measure S called \u201cFix Our Roads,\u201d<\/a> but it failed to collect enough signatures to appear on the November ballot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sky\u2019s not falling,\u201d Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce said. \u201cWe won\u2019t be out of transportation dollars, and we\u2019ll be able to come up with something that\u2019ll truly meet the needs of the people and give the residents of Fresno County exactly what they\u2019ve been asking for, which is to fix their roads.\u201d<\/p>\n Who is Funding Measure S?<\/p>\n The Measure S campaign has raised $1.35 million as of it\u2019s June 30 filing and has $12,600 left in the bank.<\/p>\n![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_1653.jpeg\" "\\"IMG_1653.jpeg\\"")
Fresno County supervisors Garry Bredefeld and Buddy Mendes, Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce, Reedley Mayor Matthew Tuttle and Brooke Ashjian, chair of the Valley Watchdogs Political Action Committee, at a \u201cNo on Measure S\u201d news gathering in Clovis on Tuesday. Liliana Fannin Local roads<\/p>\n The Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability organized a rally on Monday, July 13, 2026, in downtown Fresno to urge support of the Better Roads, Safe Streets ballot measure. LILINA FANNIN lfannin@fresnobee.com Regional projects, oversight<\/p>\n
![\"Clovis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_1645.jpeg\" "\\"IMG_1645.jpeg\\"")
Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce, left, speaks at a press conference to announce a formal opposition campaign to Measure S on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Liliana Fannin If Measure S fails, can everyone come together to make a new version?<\/p>\n