The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to place a half-cent transportation sales tax on the March 2028 ballot, directly conflicting with a new state law that requires the measure appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot instead, according to reporting by The Fresno Bee.
The same 3-2 majority — Supervisors Garry Bredefeld, Buddy Mendes and Nathan Magsig — also voted to sue Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus, the measure’s proponents, and the state over the law, which was passed and signed within four days earlier this month. Kus has said he is legally bound to place the item on the November ballot regardless of the board’s vote.
The tax, known as Measure S, would replace the expiring Measure C and is projected to raise roughly $7 billion over 30 years for transportation projects. Meanwhile, the City of Fresno had filed a separate, competing tax measure as a backstop; several councilmembers called a special meeting for this week to consider withdrawing it if the county measure proceeds toward the November ballot.
The dispute leaves the timing of the vote unresolved and headed toward the courts.
