An internal fight over real estate fees has turned into a looming legal battle pitting elected Fresno County officials against each other.

Fresno County supervisors are preparing to sue Fresno County Assessor/Recorder Paul Dictos over his unique read on a state law.

At last week’s board meeting, County Counsel Doug Sloan emerged out of closed session to announce that supervisors unanimously decided to write a letter to Dictos telling him to apply Senate Bill 2 in line with how county attorneys interpret it. And if Dictos doesn’t, the board will pursue litigation against him.

This comes after the county confirmed to GV Wire that it accepted and will pay a $10,000 claim filed by a Bakersfield attorney to recover real estate fees on a large property transaction.

Dictos told GV Wire he stands by his interpretation of SB 2 and welcomes the matter going to court. He said his interpretation is the correct one, even if only he and a handful of other county recorders apply it that way.

What the Controversy Is About

Under SB 2, real estate transactions get a $75 assessment that funds affordable housing projects, with about 70% going to the county of record. Under Dictos’ interpretation, large landowners face fees totaling tens of thousands of dollars because he applies the $75 fee to each parcel sold.

He said a court decision will provide recorders statewide with the guidance they have sought from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and from California State Controller Malia Cohen, who have not weighed in despite calls from recorders for clarity.

“I’m advocating for affordable housing. I’m advocating for the homeless veterans in the streets, and my own board wants to stop me. They want to sue me,” Dictos said. “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

Lawsuit Against Recorder a First for Fresno County

There are at least three different ways that county recorders interpret the 2018 Building Homes and Jobs Acts, GV Wire found. People selling large amounts of land can either pay the base $75 fee, a $225 fee — depending on the number of documents attached — or the way Dictos interprets it, which has no maximum. It all comes down to the recorder.

Bakersfield attorney Jean Pledger contacted Dictos in 2025 about a roughly $10,000 assessment on a large piece of property for her client, she told GV Wire.

She said she had never encountered that level of assessment in other parts of the state, and in 2026, she filed a claim to recover the money.

This month, supervisors approved the claim and agreed to return the money. It was after accepting the claim that supervisors unanimously decided to have Sloan send Dictos a demand letter and pursue legal action.

Though the county is suing Dictos in his official capacity, a spokesperson said the county is not responsible for his legal fees. The spokesperson said the county is not aware of another instance of a lawsuit against itself.

Fresno County Judge’s SB 2 Ruling Could Be Statewide Precedent

Even before SB 2 passed, recorders knew about the law’s vague language. In a previous interview, Sutter County Recorder Donna Johnston told GV Wire she and other recorders told the bill’s author, then-state Sen. Toni Atkins, that the law needed clarity.

Since SB 2’s adoption into law, Dictos said he has been pressing Bonta and Cohen to weigh in on the issue. Email requests for comment to Bonta’s and Cohen’s offices from GV Wire were not returned.

Dictos said that because of his interpretation, the county has sent $54 million to the state. County records show it has received about $35 million back, helping fund affordable housing projects in Mendota, Sanger, and Reedley.

Dictos said if the matter goes to court, the verdict will have a statewide impact regardless of the outcome.

However, a loss for Dictos could result in landowners asking the county to have much of their fees returned. A victory for Dictos could mean higher transaction fees statewide on sales involving multiple parcels.

“The guidance recorders have been looking for may come from a local judge,” Dictos said.