Court forces Fresno County to place state-mandated road tax on November ballot

Fresno County Superior Court affirmed the validity of Assembly Bill 1923, a law enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom that compels the county to list the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative on the upcoming November ballot. The measure proposes a half-cent sales tax to finance road maintenance and public-transportation improvements. County officials, led by Board Chairman Garry Bredefeld, had argued the legislation infringed on local self-governance and threatened car owners, but the court rejected their challenge.

Bredefeld announced the board will not pursue an appeal, describing the state action as corrupt. Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that voters must be allowed to decide the issue. Both the county-wide tax and a separate city-wide backup tax will appear on the ballot, with the latter void if the county measure passes.