Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Brand New Sales Tax Idea for Funding Fresno's Big Needs
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 6 years ago on
October 15, 2019

Share

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand rolled out his early idea for a new sales tax in an interview Tuesday with GV Wire.
Though he didn’t name it such, you might call it “Triple-P” — a 0.75% hike on the November 2020 ballot raising about $69 million annually for public safety, parks, and public works.

“If we can get it to the ballot and passed by voters, it would be transformational for Fresno. Our current revenue isn’t sufficient to fund our needs or make Fresno the city that people want it to be.” — Fresno Mayor Lee Brand
The tax, as envisioned by Brand, would be divided equally among those services — $23 million each —and last for 15 years. If today’s projections hold, the tax would raise more than $1 billion during its lifetime.

Mayor in Talks With 3 Councilmembers

Brand said that he is in talks with a three-member city council Parks and Public Safety Subcommittee formed last month, as well as community leaders. The council group consists of Miguel Arias, Nelson Esparza, and Esmeralda Soria.
“We have a ways to go,” said Brand, who isn’t seeking reelection in 2020. “But if we can get it to the ballot and passed by voters, it would be transformational for Fresno. Our current revenue isn’t sufficient to fund our needs or make Fresno the city that people want it to be.”
Reaction from two of the councilmembers on the subcommittee was cautiously positive in the wake of the 2018 Measure P parks sales tax proposal now tied up in the courts. Brand said that if the new tax is passed, the measure’s language would require the tax to supersede Measure P regardless of how the courts rule.

If today’s projections hold, the tax would raise more than $1 billion during its lifetime.
“The cake on this measure is certainly not baked yet,” said Esparza, who supported Measure P. “Based on the politics we’ve seen here the last several years, public safety being included is a must. Parks being included is a must. Public works is certainly worthy of discussion.”

Esparza: Keep Special Interests on the Sidelines

With those added dimensions, Esparza said, a new sales tax would build a larger consensus. But, he added, the best course is to limit negotiations to the council and mayor.
“We’re elected to make these big decisions, these critical decisions on behalf of the city,” Esparza said. “From my perspective, it is the elected officials (who should be) talking and not necessarily being driven by the special interests.”
Soria, who also supported Measure P, said that she is focused on parks and public safety.

This road on Orange Avenue in southeast Fresno without sidewalks was a focal point of a battle over funding Fresno streets earlier this year. (GV Wire File)

Brand’s Rationale for New Public Works Funding

However, Brand said Fresno’s maintenance backlog is so big for streets and sidewalks that the city can’t catch up without new funding.
“As any politician who has walked precincts can tell you, people want their sidewalks fixed and the potholes on their street repaired,” Brand said.
If a measure is put in front of voters by a council vote, state law is clear that it needs two-thirds to pass because the tax is for a specific purpose. Brand said that if the council balks, he would lead a voter signature drive to get it on the ballot.

Flexibility Sought for Dividing Public Safety Allotment

An interesting feature of Brand’s out-of-the-gate idea is that $23 million going each year to public safety wouldn’t necessarily be split equally between the police and fire departments. He said that flexibility is needed so that City Hall can budget based on police and fire needs at the time.
The mayor also said that he opposes a sales tax hike that goes to the General Fund for unspecified uses. Though the bar for voter approval is reduced to 50%-plus-one in such a scenario, Brand said that voters want to know exactly how their tax dollars will be used.

Photo of Nelson Esparza
The cake on this measure is certainly not baked yet. Based on the politics we’ve seen here the last several years, public safety being included is a must. Parks being included is a must. Public works is certainly worthy of discussion.” — Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza
According to Brand’s analysis, November 2020 is the city’s best opportunity for a sales-tax increase. The local ballot next March is expected to be crowded with school bond measures. And he anticipates backers of Fresno County’s Measure C transportation tax will seek an early extension in 2022.
“November 2020 is our window,” Brand said. “But whatever we come up with, we have to do polling to see if it will be successful.”

If Approved, Sales Tax Would Be 8.725%

If a 0.75% increase is approved, the combined city’s sales tax would be 8.725%. Today’s rate is 7.975% — of which 7.25% goes to the state and the remainder to Fresno County for transportation (.50%), libraries (.125%), and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo (.10%).
The sales taxes in neighboring cities are Clovis, 7.975%; Fowler, 8.975%; Madera, 8.250%; Sanger, 8.725%; and Selma, 8.475%.
California allows local governments to collect additional sales taxes of up to 3.50% with approval by voters. Santa Fe Springs, which is in Los Angeles County, has the state’s highest sales tax at 10.5%.

Measure P’s Fate Remains Unknown

Last year’s Measure P would have lasted 30 years and raised $37 annually million for parks and related programs. It faced opposition from Brand, Police Chief Jerry Dyer, and many in the business community. Many community groups, including the Central Valley Community Foundation and Fresno Building Healthy Communities, supported the plan, which garnered 52% support.
In 2017, the state Supreme Court ruled that some elements needed to pass a specific tax don’t apply if it is placed on the ballot via voter signatures. That was how Measure P got on the ballot.
What remains to be decided is the standard for approval: two-thirds or a majority. A judge in San Francisco ruled that a majority is sufficient. Recently, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Gaab said that such measures still required two-thirds support.
The state Supreme Court is expected to make the ultimate decision.
 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

DON'T MISS

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

DON'T MISS

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

DON'T MISS

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

DON'T MISS

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

DON'T MISS

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

DON'T MISS

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

DON'T MISS

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

DON'T MISS

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

UP NEXT

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

UP NEXT

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

UP NEXT

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

UP NEXT

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

UP NEXT

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

UP NEXT

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

UP NEXT

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

21 hours ago

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

21 hours ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

2 days ago

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

2 days ago

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

2 days ago

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

2 days ago

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

2 days ago

Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More

2 days ago

Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman

2 days ago

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

2 days ago

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

EL SEGUNDO — In their first season together, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh rebuilt the team enough ...

20 hours ago

20 hours ago

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

21 hours ago

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

21 hours ago

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

21 hours ago

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

21 hours ago

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

2 days ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

2 days ago

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

2 days ago

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend