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WHEREAS, the expiration of Measure C will require reduction of transit operations, eliminating connections for Fresno residents to travel to access education, work, and medical providers; and
WHEREAS, Fresno faces new and on-going challenges from crime and homelessness, and increasing costs of providing basic services; and WHEREAS, in accordance with applicable provisions of the California Constitution, California Government Code, and California Elections Code, the City Council desires to submit to the voters of the City of Fresno a ballot measure proposal to implement a one- half percent Sales and Use Tax in the City of Fresno, maintaining our current Sales and Use Tax rate of 8.35% (hereinafter the “Measure”); and
WHEREAS, if the Measure is approved by the voters, the Sales and Use Tax is a general tax, the revenue of which will be placed in the City’s general fund and be used to pay for any general City services; and
WHEREAS, if the Measure is approved by the voters, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration shall collect the tax from retailers subject to the tax and remit the funds to the City; and
WHEREAS, Section 10401 of the Elections Code authorizes the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the special municipal election with the statewide general election scheduled for November 3, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Sales and Use Tax required by the Measure cannot be imposed without voter approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Fresno as follows:
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1. Pursuant to Article XIII C, Section 2(b) of the California Constitution, Section 53724 of the Government Code, and applicable provisions of the Elections Code, the City Council of the City of Fresno hereby calls and orders an election at which the Measure relating to the increase of the City’s Sales and Use Tax shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the City.
2. The City Council requests the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to consolidate the special municipal election for this Measure with the statewide general election on November 3, 2026, pursuant to section 10403 of the Elections Code, and acknowledges that the consolidated election will be held and conducted in the manner prescribed in Elections Code section 10418.
3. The City requests that the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters conduct the election and canvass the returns, and the City agrees to pay the proportionate share of reasonable expenses of said election, said share to consist of all direct costs as determined by the Fresno County Clerk/ Registrar of Voters to be directly related to the conduct of the City of Fresno' special municipal election together with the City's proportionate share of the expenses for election services rendered by Fresno County that are being shared equally with other jurisdictions, if any, by virtue of the consolidation of the City's special municipal election with the elections being held by other jurisdictions, if any, in the City of Fresno on November 3, 2026.
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4. At the statewide general election to be held on November 3, 2026, the following question shall be submitted to registered voters of the City of Fresno and shall be printed on the election ballot in the form set forth as follows:
CITY OF FRESNO ROADS/PUBLIC SAFETY/CITY SERVICES
MEASURE (NO TAX INCREASE): With no estimated increase to current tax rates, shall the measure maintaining local streets, roads, sidewalks; improving police/fire staffing, 9-1-1 emergency response; maintaining transit services; accelerating airport improvements, and other general services by establishing a 0.5¢ sales tax providing approximately $65,000,000 annually for 10 years or until adoption of a County transportation tax, whichever is sooner; with citizen oversight, all funds spent locally, be adopted?
YES
NO
5. The following constitutes the synopsis of the Measure to be voted on for purposes of meeting the publication requirements of Elections Code Section 12111:
MEASURE TO BE VOTED UPON
Notice is hereby given that the following measure is to be voted on at the special municipal election to be held in the City of Fresno, on Tuesday, the 3rd of November, 2026.
APPROVAL OF FRESNO PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE RESTORATION,
AND CITY SERVICES TAX ORDINANCE
The proposed ordinance would impose a 1/2 percent sales and use tax within the City of Fresno for a period of 10 years or upon implementation of a County of Fresno transportation infrastructure tax, whichever occurs first. It is estimated to raise approximately $65 million annually while retaining City of Fresno’s current tax rate.
Proceeds would belong to the City of Fresno and could not be taken by, and would not be shared with, the State, County, or any other agency. As a general tax, revenues raised would be directed into the City’s general fund and be available for any general City purpose, including but not limited to transportation infrastructure, repairing streets, roads and sidewalks, building safe routes to schools, providing public safety and assisting 9-1-1 emergency response, maintaining public transportation systems, local airports, and other general services provided by the City.
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6. The full text of the ordinance submitted to the voters is attached as Exhibit A and by this reference incorporated herein. The full text of the Measure is not required to be printed in the Sample Ballot and Voters Pamphlet. However, the full text of the Measure shall be made available at the Office of the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters and the Office of the Fresno City Clerk.
7. The measure shall be designated on the ballot by a letter, as provided in Elections Code Section 13116. This measure shall be designated by letter by the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters.
8. Passage of the Measure requires a simple majority of votes from qualified voters of the City voting in the election.
9. In all particulars not recited in this resolution, the election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
10. The full text of the Measure submitted to the voters will appear in the sample ballot and voter’s pamphlet. The Ordinance to be enacted to implement the Measure, if the Measure is approved by the voters, will not be printed in the sample ballot and voter’s pamphlet.
11. Arguments in favor or against the proposed measure are permissible and shall be filed with the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar in accordance with Elections Code Section 9281 or as provided for the consolidated election. Councilmembers voting
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in the majority for this resolution and the Mayor are authorized, but not required, to file arguments in favor of the proposed measure. They are also authorized to provide input to the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar in determining a letter designation for this Measure. Rebuttal arguments shall be permitted pursuant to applicable law.
12. Pursuant to Elections Code section 9280, the City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the Measure to the City Attorney, and the City Attorney shall prepare an impartial analysis of the Measure in accordance with Elections Code section 9280 and file it with the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters.
13. The City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this resolution with the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters as required by applicable law. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to work with the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters and take all steps necessary to cause placement of the Measure and any associated arguments, analysis, synopsis, summary, or ballot question on the ballot.
14. The City Clerk and City Attorney are authorized to make any typographical, clerical, non -substantive corrections to this resolution and the Measure to be placed on the ballot as may be deemed necessary by the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters.
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15. The adoption of this Resolution is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq. ("CEQA") and 14 Cal. Code Reg. §§ 15000 et seq. ("CEQA Guidelines"). The calling and noticing of a Special Municipal Election for the submission of a ballot measure to voters is not a project within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. The ballot measure submitted to the voters is for a general tax that can be used for any governmental purpose; it is not a commitment to any particular action or actions. As such, under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), the potential tax increase is not a project within the meaning of CEQA because, if approved, the tax increase simply creates a government funding mechanism that does not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
16. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution or its application to other persons and circumstances. The City Council of the City of Fresno hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional
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and, to that end, the provisions hereof are hereby declared to be severable.
17. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon final adoption.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, AMY K. ALLER , City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing ordinance was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2026.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
Mayor Approval: , 2026
Mayor Approval/No Return: , 2026
Mayor Veto: , 2026
Council Override Vote: , 2026
By:
Deputy Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ANDREW JANZ
City Attorney
By:
Andrew Janz D ate
City Attorney
AMY K. ALLER
Interim City Clerk