Kingsburg council votes to place 1% public-safety sales tax renewal on June ballot

Kingsburg99999999999999999999999999999999999999999 The Kingsburg City Council voted unanimously Jan. 7 to place a proposed renewal of Measure E, a 1% public-safety transactions and use tax, on the June 2, 2026 consolidated primary election ballot.

Special counsel Matthew Richardson told the council that voters originally approved Measure E on June 5, 2018 with roughly 72% support and that the tax became effective Oct. 1, 2018 for a 10-year term; unless renewed it is scheduled to expire Sept. 30, 2028. "On 06/05/2018, Kingsburg voters approved Measure E, a 1% public safety sales tax with 72% voter support," Richardson said in his presentation.

Staff told the council two resolutions were required: one to call and consolidate the special municipal election with the statewide primary, and a second to place the specific ordinance language on the ballot and authorize preparation of the attorney's impartial analysis and argument materials. Richardson said the council must approve the resolutions by a two-thirds vote (four of five members) to place the measure on the ballot; the council adopted both resolutions by recorded affirmative votes and the mayor announced both passed 5-0.

Councilmembers discussed next steps for a ballot argument and campaign conduct. Staff recommended appointing an ad hoc committee of the mayor and mayor pro tem to draft a primary argument in favor; the council appointed the sitting mayor and mayor pro tem for that purpose. Counsel clarified that after placing the measure on the ballot councilmembers may not use city resources or speak from the dais to campaign, though they may discuss the matter on their own time.

The resolutions call for the city to contract with the Fresno County clerk to conduct the election and set county deadlines for submission of primary and rebuttal arguments. If the council chooses not to submit a primary argument, the clerk will select a community-submitted argument for printing under Elections Code rules.

Next steps include finalizing the ordinance language, authorizing the city's attorney to prepare the impartial analysis, and following county schedules for argument and rebuttal filing deadlines. The council's formal actions on Jan. 7 place the renewal before Kingsburg voters in June; additional administrative deadlines and campaign timelines will be set by the county registrar.