A proposed bill, AB 1923, has been rewritten to require Fresno County to place a qualified signature-led initiative on the November ballot, potentially replacing the soon-to-be-expired transportation tax, Measure C. The move has sparked a power struggle between state lawmakers and Fresno County supervisors.

Background

The bill, co-authored by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and state Sen. Anna Caballero, aims to ensure that voters have the opportunity to decide the future of Measure C without delay. The current transportation tax is set to expire in June 2027, and its replacement, the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative, has garnered over 30,000 signatures from county registered voters.

However, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors had previously delayed placing the initiative on the ballot, citing the need for a 30-day study. Proponents of the initiative argue that this move was a political game intended to prevent the measure from qualifying for the November ballot.

Consequences of Inaction

If Measure C expires without a replacement, cities in Fresno County anticipate significant budgetary shortfalls. The City of Fresno projects a loss of roughly $54 million annually, while Clovis expects to take a $6.3 million hit. The Fresno County Rural Transportation Authority also expects to lose about $4 million each year.

Before the supervisors’ vote, county staff estimated that 90 employees would be laid off without a Measure C replacement.

Next Steps

The bill will go before the Assembly and Senate Elections Committees in hearings on Wednesday. If passed, it will require a two-thirds vote in both houses of the state legislature to pass, as it is an urgency measure set to take effect immediately upon approval.

Original reporting: Fresnoland — read the source article.