With legal hurdles cleared, proponents of the half-cent sales tax measure to support road repair and public transit have declared the campaign officially begun. And with outside money pouring in, the coalition of local leaders and community groups say Measure S supporters will soon be knocking on doors to sell the transportation tax to voters.

Measure S collects the half-cent sales tax, dedicating 65% to road repair, 25% to public transit, 4% to transit innovation, 4% to regional projects, 1% to the airport, and 1% to administration.

Pastor DJ Criner of St. Rest Baptist Church who sits on the board of the Fresno Unified Foundation for students, said tax money puts local roads and neighborhoods “back where they belong at the top of our priority list.”

“People across this county have told us time and time again that they want to see their tax dollars working where they live, on the streets that they drive, on the sidewalks that their children walk on, and the transportation systems that their families depend on,” Criner said.

Nonprofits Eligible for Measure S Dollars

Measure S won’t be without opposition, however. The nonprofit Valley Watchdogs, run by road repair and paving executive Brooke Ashjian has taken an official “no” stance and will campaign in opposition. He was originally on the formation committee when Measure S was being crafted as a replacement for Measure C. He left the committee after the group kicked him out and he was reinstated.

Ashjian said the measure is too restrictive to effectively bring road repair.

Ashjian called it a way to funnel taxpayer dollars to nonprofit groups. The 4% dedicated to transit innovation first goes to bus passes. Nonprofits, as well as private enterprise, can apply for taxpayer dollars for clean energy projects, according to the measure language. A coalition of nonprofits, including Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, and Building Healthy Communities sponsored and are driving Measure S.

The nonprofit Central Valley Community Foundation also oversees the DRIVE Initiative, a 10-year plan focusing on housing, transportation and civic infrastructure.

The Fresno Council of Governments would award the Measure S transit innovation grants and develop policy guidelines around clean energy projects, travel choice projects, and future technology projects.

COG also would select the citizen’s oversight committee that oversees how money is spent.

“What if they bought one bus ticket? Did it go toward the bus ticket? Yes. Where’s the other $300 million going?” Ashjian said. “They figured out a way to fleece the public.”

Outside Funding Pours Into Measure S

The Measure S campaign has largely been supported by the Central Valley Community Foundation, which has donated more than $750,000 to the campaign. The foundation also gave $8,000 a month to consultant Steve Brandau and $4,000 a month to consultant Cary Catalano to support Measure S.

In June, Sacramento-based climate group Fund for a Better Future also took up the cause donating $150,000 to the group. Local advocacy group Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability in August donated $75,000.

More recently, Kathryn “Kat” Taylor, the wife of former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and hedge fund owner Tom Steyer donated $20,000. Taylor, according to her website, advances climate and justice initiatives.

An email request for comment to Taylor was not immediately answered.

Veronica Garibay, executive director of Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, said support has been local, with donations coming from the foundation and the Carpenter’s Union. The North Coast States Regional Council of Carpenters donated $250,000 in February.

“We support anybody who wants to support Measure S to support better transportation in our community,” Garibay said.

Fresno County Board Chair Garry Bredefeld, however, told GV Wire the priorities in Measure S coincide with a broader policy from other parts of the state to reduce road usage.

“You look at Ashley Swearengin’s foundation, it’s funded by millionaires from the Bay Area. She’s already spent a million dollars, they’ll spend another million dollars in this campaign to fool people and rip people off for 30 years. I’m not surprised,” Bredefeld said. “This is where the money comes from. If you like the policies out of the Bay Area, you’ll love this plan. But, we need to have people’s roads and streets and neighborhoods fixed.”

Without Measure S, Roads and Transit Suffer: Dyer

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said without Measure S, roads will deteriorate and public transit will worsen.

Using federal COVID-relief funds, the city was able to bring its average pavement condition from 60 to 64. He said city road conditions would worsen by 3% to 4% annually, going back to 60 in just a few years.

“If Measure S does not pass, we stop primarily the vast majority of the funding that goes into neighborhood streets,” Dyer said. “In just a few years, we will be below 60 and then at 50, and we will be in a position in the city of Fresno and the county of Fresno where roads are not safe to drive on.”

With $1.3 billion in deferred road maintenance and $300 million in deferred sidewalk repairs, Measure S would bring about $65 million to $75 million annually over 30 years, Dyer said.

Additionally, offering free bus rides to students, seniors, and veterans would increase ridership on the Fresno Area Express. The city of Fresno may also bring in on-demand bus trips, similar to those in Clovis.

“For those people who choose to ride a bike, we want to provide a safe way for them do so, providing protected and continuous bike lanes. Far too many people are being killed on bicycles in Fresno County,” Dyer said. “And for the 10-plus million riders who choose to ride our FAX buses each year, we owe it to them to provide a convenient, reliable, timely, and affordable service no matter where their destination takes them.”

Better Road Measure Is Possible: Ashjian

Bredefeld opposed the level of spending on transportation. Considering the level of road maintenance needed, he said the 65% allocation doesn’t cover what’s already needed, not counting needs going into the future.

“There’s $3 billion — with a ‘B’ in deferred maintenance throughout the city and the county,” Bredefeld said. “This measure won’t even touch the deferred maintenance, let alone new deferred maintenance that will go on for 30 years.”

The measure also requires how roads should be built. It mandates that money go to disadvantaged communities first, regardless of road condition, then the poorest roads regardless of how often they are used.

It also requires bike lanes and bus stops where feasible.

Ashjian said the plan is so restrictive that it will be difficult to accomplish what it prescribes.

With Measure C not expiring until June 2027 and the next opportunity to pass a plan in 2028, he said the county has an opportunity to pass a better plan.

“What are you really missing? You’re missing one year. In one year, our roads are going to deteriorate so bad, you’re not going to be able to drive on them, really?” Ashjian said. “They’re grabbing the mediocre for what could be better, what could be great.”