The case for and against the Measure E sales tax proposal

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno County voters volition determine connected Measure E, a projected caller income tax, connected March 5.

"It's intended for Fresno State successful bid to further the ngo of Fresno State, which straight impacts the prime of the region," Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval told Action News.

The Measure E taxation would adhd a penny connected immoderate $4 purchases for the adjacent 25 years. It would not use to rent, groceries, gas, oregon utilities.

The pennies would rapidly adhd up -- totaling astir $63 cardinal a year, much than $1.5 cardinal altogether.

Voters already rejected a akin Measure E successful 2022. Just implicit a twelvemonth later, it is backmost with a higher taxation for a longer time.

It comes arsenic Jiménez-Sandoval says his aging field needs help.

"We hole the basics oregon what is the astir pressing. But beauteous soon, you know, the gathering has to beryllium fixed," Jiménez-Sandoval said. "Deferred attraction astatine Fresno State is $500,000,000."

Deferred attraction accounts for lone 1 portion of wherever each the taxation gross would go, however. Supporters accidental astir 3 twelve different projects would further the school's acquisition mission.

Opponents constituent retired that millions successful taxation gross would besides spell to the salaries of a seven-person committee that would walk and oversee the money.

"We don't judge that $14 cardinal needs to spell to an oversight board," hostile Eric Payne said.

The unsocial connection is uniting some sides of the aisle to travel retired against it.

"When was the past clip you genuinely saw Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association basal alongside each different successful rule and purpose," hostile Brooke Ashjian said.

The opponents bash not each disagree with the request for immoderate field upgrades. But they accidental solutions should travel from Sacramento oregon the CSU system.

That strategy appears to person plentifulness of resources available.

When the labour national representing CSU module went connected a statewide onslaught successful January, they said the CSU had implicit $8 cardinal successful full reserves successful 2022.

More than $6.5 cardinal of those assets were unrestricted.

"It isn't wrong the fund of the CSU to supply maine with funds that let maine to program up and to innovate," Jiménez-Sandoval said erstwhile pressed astir the document.

Seemingly caught successful the mediate of the combat implicit Measure E are the astir 24,000 Fresno State students.

Well implicit fractional are the archetypal to be college, and 86 percent of each students received a assistance oregon assistance this year.

Student and seasoned Frederick Lisitsa says Fresno State has fixed him a chance, and helium wants that for others.

"I would beryllium moving close now, and I wouldn't beryllium processing myself the mode that I americium without the schoolhouse having the programs that it does," Lisitsa said. He supports Measure E.

The erstwhile mentation of Measure E that appeared connected the ballot successful 2022 failed by astir 6,000 votes.

Supporters request 50 percent positive 1 ballot for it to walk successful March.

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