A social justice group — backed by the nonprofit led by former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin — has started the official process to place a Fresno County half-cent sales tax for transportation projects on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot.

Moving Forward Together filed a notice of intention with the Fresno County Clerk to collect signatures to succeed Measure C.

Swearengin, CEO and president of the nonprofit Central Valley Community Foundation, filed paperwork Jan. 15 with the clerk to raise funds for signature gathering and the campaign to pass the measure. Swearengin is principal officer of the group called Safe and Prosperous Central Valley.

“We’re supportive of this effort and really grateful for the tireless work of so many volunteers and local government officials who have been at the table working hard together and trying to figure out how do we build this measure and what is worthy of the voter support,” Swearengin said.

Meanwhile, a Fresno County supervisor wants to investigate the failure to renew Measure C and has proposed that the county raise its own tax.

New Measure Estimated to Raise $7.4 Billion

Supporters estimate the 30-year tax measure would raise $7.4 billion. The plan also has the support of two prominent local Republicans: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Clovis City Councilmember Lynne Ashbeck.

The measure would focus on fixing local roads, dedicating 65% of funds raised to that purpose. Critics, however, say the figure for roads should be at least 70%.

“We are moving forward together with a plan to use local funding to fix what matters most — fixing local roads first, improving transit, creating good jobs now and for future generations — without raising taxes,” Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability Co-Director Veronica Garibay said in a news release.

Group Aims for 35,000 Signatures

Proponents need to gather about approximately 22,000 valid signatures to qualify. The group said it will aim for 35,000. If the measure qualifies, it will not carry the Measure C designation, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus said previously.

Voters first approved Measure C in 1986 for 20 years and renewed it for another 20 years in 2006. A renewal effort failed in 2022.

The Fresno Council of Governments — a confederation of 15 city governments within the county and the county itself — could not agree on a renewal plan and voted to cease efforts to place a 2026 renewal measure on the ballot.

That opened the door for Moving Forward Together to pursue a citizen-led initiative. The key difference is the vote threshold required for approval. A government-sponsored measure needs two-thirds voter support to pass, while a signature-led initiative requires a simple majority.

Moving Forward Together outlined how it plans to spend the tax revenue. The plan was formulated during formal Measure C steering committee meetings:

• “An estimated $4.8 billion (65%) to fix and improve local streets and potholes and invest in what our neighborhoods need most, including sidewalks, crosswalks, curb and gutter, streetlights, bike lanes, and safe routes to schools—so children, seniors, and people with disabilities can move safely through their communities.
• “$1.85 billion (25%) to improve the efficiency of our public transit services, better connecting residents to jobs, schools, doctor appointments, grocery stores, and other essential services.
• “$370 million (5%) to projects that provide congestion relief and better connections between cities and towns.
• “$296 million (4%) to enable new technologies, invest in zero-emission infrastructure, and increase access to new destinations.
• “$74 million (1%) to ensure transparent spending, strong citizen oversight, annual audits, and a public database tracking every dollar and project.”

Bredefeld: Let County Do Its Own Tax

At Tuesday’s Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Garry Bredefeld questioned how the proposed citizen-led initiative should be characterized.

Bredefeld said the group is using “work product paid for by the public.”

COG established a steering committee to craft a potential Measure C renewal, spending approximately $925,000 in the process. The group appointed representatives of labor and business groups, as well as suggestions from mayors of the local cities.

Controversy erupted when COG added 12 members selected by the social justice group Transportation for All — the predecessor to Moving Forward Together. Critics said the group hijacked the process to push a social justice agenda.

Bredefeld said the money spent was “wasted.” The supervisor asked from the dais whether “this initiative committee utilizes work product paid for by the public … is that a violation of election laws?”

The supervisor also asked Fresno County Counsel Douglas Sloan whether that would make the Moving Forward Together initiative a government tax, requiring a two-thirds vote to pass.

Bredefeld asked Sloan to investigate and return with an analysis “including potential litigation and/or prosecution.”

The supervisor also proposed placing a general sales tax on the November ballot.

“The general tax could be used for expenses such as repairing roads, other capital projects, public safety and other critical needs,” Bredefeld said.

A general sales tax placed on the ballot by the government only needs a majority to pass.

Sloan said it would take 45 days to complete an analysis.

Another group, led by transportation officials such as former COG Executive Director Tony Boren, has floated a proposal for a Measure C successor. Boren was not available for comment.

Swearengin said her group has spoken to Boren’s group.

“The difference will be clear if the other group moves forward, they’ve got a pretty significant focus on investing in the state’s infrastructure and we’d really like to see our dollars stay local,” Swearengin said.

If two similar tax measures are approved, the measure with more votes would take effect.

No Money Raised Yet

Swearengin said her group has not raised funds yet, but will do so soon and properly report it to campaign finance officials.

“We’ll be working with a lot a different community partners and donors and volunteers in order to get this thing over the finish line,” Swearengin said.

She called it similar to the effort to pass Measure P in 2018. That measure raised the sales tax in the city of Fresno to raise funds specifically for parks and arts.

Safe and Prosperous Central Valley is associated with Fund for a Better Future, an environmental social justice group. The San Rafael-based fund gave out $10.7 million in grants in 2024 according to its IRS forms.

Did COG Really Vote to Cease Effort?

The COG Policy Board — composed of the 15 mayors in Fresno County and Bredefeld as the county representative — voted 9-3 at its Jan. 7 meeting to discontinue pursuing a Measure C renewal.

Or did it?

Bredefeld insists the policy board made a technical error with the vote. The initial motion to discontinue failed with only seven votes in favor — less than a majority needed.

The minutes show Coalinga Mayor Nathan Vosberg making a motion to reconsider. That was the 9-3 count cited as the full vote to discontinue.

At the time, the Fresno County attorney staffing the meeting, Bryan Rome, appeared confused about the finer points of Robert’s Rules of Order.

Even Rome’s boss, Sloan — along with outside firm BBK — said the declaration about the vote to discontinue was made in error, Bredefeld said in an email to COG Executive Director Robert Phipps.

“No legal action was actually completed because of the inappropriate second vote that was taken. You expressed to me that Chair Alma Beltran does not want to place the item on the agenda for discussion, and this is unacceptable,” Bredefeld wrote to Phipps on Jan. 22.

Bredefeld wanted Phipps and Beltran — the mayor of Parlier — to place the item on the agenda for the next COG meeting, scheduled for Thursday.

Phipps has the power to set the agenda, according to the group’s bylaws. In a response to Bredefeld, Phipps said he consults with the chair “on those agenda items I deem controversial.”

“Chair Beltran has indicated that her preference is not to include further discussion,” Phipps wrote.

Phipps did write that a majority of the board could vote to discuss the item on a future agenda.

COG to Consider Paying Facilitator More

During the steering committee process, FCOG fired its initial consultant midway through and hired Mark Keppler — a steering committee member — to facilitate meetings.

Keppler is asking for more money than originally agreed to for his services. An mediator by trade, a licensed attorney in Connecticut, and former executive director of the Maddy Institute, he agreed to take over in August 2025 under a $50,000 contract based on approximately 160 hours of work.

Because the steering committee ran two months longer than expected, Keppler said he is entitled to additional compensation.

Keppler bills at $315 an hour. A staff report said that would total $95,681.25.

The policy board is scheduled to vote on a proposal to offer only $25,000 extra for a total of $75,000.

Also at the Thursday meeting, the policy board will consider hiring a third-party attorney instead of using county counsel to avoid potential conflicts of interest.