Measure C tax replacement bill advances to state senate floor as Fresno County supervisors push back

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A bill aimed at placing a Measure C replacement tax initiative on the November ballot is headed to the California Senate floor, drawing support from local leaders while prompting opposition from several Fresno County supervisors.

Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria and State Sen. Anna Caballero announced the legislation Monday after hearing from mayors across Fresno County about the importance of the measure to their communities.

Several Fresno County supervisors and other county leaders plan to hold a press conference Thursday morning to address the proposed legislation. They contend that residents deserve "a fair and transparent process where election law is followed and not selectively enforced."

AB 1923, known as the Fresno County Transportation Improvement Act, advanced following a committee vote and is intended to put the Measure C replacement tax, also called the Better Roads, Safe Streets Initiative, before voters in November.

"An initiative that was unfortunately and purposely shelved by a select few Fresno County Supervisors who decided the voters of Fresno County should not have their voices heard this November," Soria said. "It was dishonest and they chose to hide behind a technicality."

Measure C, which is scheduled to expire in June of next year, is a half-cent sales tax designed to fund transportation projects throughout Fresno County.

Supporters of the proposal, including local leaders and community members, spoke in favor of the legislation.

"As young as I could remember, I remember my family relied on this transit system and I can't wait to see what the bill will do for our transit system," one supporter said during public comment.

Opposition to the bill has come from several Fresno County leaders, who are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom not to sign the legislation.

Fresno County Board of Supervisors Chair Garry Bredefeld said he intends to fight the measure.

"The people who get screwed by this are my constituents, the residents of Fresno County," Bredefeld said. "A light needs to be shined on this. Newsom needs to do the right thing, I suspect he won't."

Last month, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to pause the Measure C replacement tax process pending further review. The deadline to complete the Measure C replacement tax proposal is Friday, after which it is expected to be presented to the board next week.

"I absolutely care about every constituent and everybody who has a concern," Bredefeld said. "The bottom line though is you don't create a 30-year tax measure that promises to fix everyone's roads and it will not fix all the roads."

Caballero said residents expected the board to place the measure before voters.

"They had expectations that the Board of Supervisors would put this on the ballot and the board failed in the responsibility to do that," Caballero said.

A vote on AB 1923 is expected Thursday.

Meanwhile, Bredefeld claimed the initiative is a "scheme" driven by Ashley Swearengin, president and chief executive officer of the Central Valley Community Foundation, and has alleged instances of corruption involving Newsom and the former Fresno mayor.

The Central Valley Community Foundation said in a statement:

"Supervisor Bredefeld is referring to inaccurate reporting from over a year ago. The Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) corrected the reporter at that time with the following, accurate information: While the CVCF is a fiscal sponsor for the California Partners Project and has been since 2020, we have never been solicited to donate funds to the project, nor has CVCF ever made a donation to the Project. Second, grants received by CVCF from the State were secured through two phases of a competitive solicitation administered by the California Employment Development Department beginning in October 2023 and again in February 2024."

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