Fresno County officials begin public process to shape Measure C renewal ahead of 2026 ballot

County officials on April 22 received an update on preparations for a renewal of Measure C, the countywide transportation sales-tax program, and were urged to prioritize local streets and roads as the renewal is crafted for the 2026 election season.

Kendall Flint, regional director of community engagement and strategic planning with DKS Associates, told the Board of Supervisors the effort is using a “bottom-up” approach that pairs a public Measure C Renewal Committee with a concurrent Technical Advisory Committee representing transit agencies and municipal staff. Flint said the public-facing website measurec2026.com will collect input and that organizers plan more than 40 community workshops and pop-up events this summer.

“We have an opportunity to allow the public to weigh in,” Flint said, adding the renewal committee’s scope will include recommended length of a renewal, revenue allocation by transportation category, formulas for allocation by agency, and oversight and reporting requirements. Flint noted the current Measure C has brought “$10,000,000,000 into the Fresno region,” of which about $2,000,000,000 came directly from the sales tax and the remainder from matching funds leveraged at state and federal levels.

Why it matters: the current Measure C expires April 1, 2027. Flint warned that if a new measure cannot be constructed and placed before voters, Measure C revenue would stop and would be “devastating” for smaller cities and for local street maintenance programs that rely heavily on the tax.

Board members emphasized streets-and-roads as a political and programmatic priority. Supervisor Breitefield said voters repeatedly told canvassers local pavement is top priority: “They said, when are you gonna fix my streets?” Supervisor Mendez and others cited billions in deferred maintenance locally and urged the draft plan to include a large share for local street repairs. Several supervisors asked the consultants to emphasize plain-language categories so voters understand the proposals; Flint said the team wants fewer, clearer spending categories because small allocations can be unusable for small jurisdictions (for example, ADA compliance accounts too small to complete projects).

Consultants and agency leaders also said oversight and reporting are priorities. Flint said the current measure lacks “teeth” on timely audits and public reporting; voters, she said, want stronger transparency so they can see “where their money was spent.” Board members asked for regular updates and asked consultants to return with formal proposals in summer and fall. Flint said there is no draft measure yet and that public input will shape categories and allocations.

Public comment and board direction: supervisors indicated they want the renewal to be seen as a countywide collaborative effort. Supervisor Chavez and Supervisor Pacheco urged outreach that includes residents and grassroots voices, not only organizations. The consultant agreed to return quarterly or as requested and the board requested interim reports so city councils and supervisors can review drafts before a final plan is circulated.

Ending: Staff advised that the process will continue with community workshops this summer, steering-committee meetings through November, and further briefings to the board. If the board and regional partners agree on a plan, the target remains to put a renewal measure before voters in 2026.