No on Measure _
City of Kingsburg – Public Safety Transactions and Use Tax Measure
June 2, 2026 Primary Election
Kingsburg Public Safety Salary Data
https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2024/kingsburg
Election Cheating
The best place to learn more about election cheating is How All Local Governments Cheat on Ballot Measures (Subtitle: And How All Public Officials with Elections Duties Aid and Abet Them). Notably, the recommendations of an Alameda County Grand Jury report titled The Need For Accuracy and Impartiality of Ballot Measure Questions have not been implemented in Fresno County (or any other county that we are aware of).
Here in Fresno County we learned how this affects true grassroots fights against corruption in this year’s Measure E Fresno State Sales Tax. You can read about why there was no argument against Measure E in the March Primary Voter Guide:
Opponents get 10 days to publish their arguments to the contrary.
…Ashjian said he was told nothing would be ready until after November. In December, Kus mistakenly told Ashjian the due date wasn’t until Dec. 11. … Thus, the Measure E opponents missed the deadline.
https://gvwire.com/2024/01/31/fresno-county-voters-wont-see-argument-against-measure-e-on-the-ballot-what-happened/
The 10-day deadline favors proponents of measures, and is just one of the many ways that these measures are not actually democratic, but oligarchy in democracy’s clothing.
The Libertarian Party of Fresno County made sure that as many tax and bond ballot measures as possible had an argument filed in opposition. This took eight trips to the County Clerk’s office in less than 8 weeks during July and August – just to drop off the paperwork for 13 of the tax or bond arguments appearing on this ballot this election across the county. This does not count the additional, extensive coordination needed to gather co-author signatures or write the arguments.
For all but one of the 13 measures, if LPFC had not filed an argument in opposition NO ARGUMENT OPPOSING THE TAX would appear in the voter guide. In all but two cases, there was an argument in favor submitted by the proponents (who have the advantage of knowing when the measure is submitted to the county clerk in the first place).
Argument Against
How has your cost of living fared over the last few years? What about that of your neighbors? Rather than cast a vote in favor of this higher sales tax for the City of Kingsburg we ask you to consider the following:
This tax will impose $2,600,000 every year on the people of Kingsburg with no end date. Perhaps you think your share of that burden is well worth paying, given the promise of continuing and improving emergency services in your city. We agree that safety services are important, and if you feel that this is a cause worth giving money towards, we applaud your generosity and your desire to contribute to your community. But we ask you to consider other options to fund these projects; if you are willing to contribute to these in the form of a tax, would you be willing to do so through voluntary charity instead?
Think again of your neighbors: many of them have struggled the past few years, and even a 1% sales tax may represent a substantial burden on their cost of living. That’s less money available to put food on the table, save for their children’s high education, or even pay those expensive medical bills after the paramedics have left. We applaud the community spirit of those who wish to raise money for a worthy cause; we simply ask that they turn first towards voluntary means to do so, especially given the difficult financial times that many find themselves in.
Allow your neighbors to decide for themselves which causes they choose to fund, and vote NO on Measure _.
Rebuttal to Argument in Favor
Voters in Kingsburg approved Measure E in 2018, agreeing to a 1% sales tax until 2029. Why are City Officials trying to extend this tax on residents now – 3 years before it ends?
If the Mayor and City Council believe that basic services of Kingsburg are at risk without this funding, then why haven’t they made this a priority in their regular budget? Clearly, your quality of life is not actually their greatest concern.
Instead, it is a way to guilt you into continuing to pay high taxes (with NO EXPIRATION) when you are already feeling the pain of higher costs at the grocery store and gas pump. Now they want to keep your costs on essentials like clothing and toilet paper high. Residents—not tourists—pay almost all of this tax. Every online purchase shipped to your home adds extra sales tax you pay. This isn’t a tourist tax. It’s a you tax.
What Kingsburg residents need is tax relief so that they can make ends meet in this difficult economic time.
Did leaders use the past 7 years (over $14,000,000 already collected) to find other ways to make sure Kingsburg services are provided and help put money back in your pocket?
No – They have no intention of cutting existing budgets to fund these “essential” services. You will be on the hook forever!
Don’t reward poor monetary management and budget decisions with more funding!
Say NO to MEASURE _
More on Sales Tax Measures and This Jurisdiction
Sales taxes are already very high in California, and they are regressive – meaning that the poor pay a greater percentage of the tax in comparison to their ability to pay. If passed, this measure will keep the sales tax in Kingsburg at 8.975% (which will be amongst the highest in the county, and higher than Fresno City, which does not have a sales tax measure on this ballot).
This tax was originally voted in by voters in 2018, but the city wants to extend it now – 3 years ahead of schedule. Why? Because if voters reject it, they can keep trying at each election for the next 3 years to force it on Kingsburg residents. With our current Fed-fueled price inflation (and looming recession), Kingsburg citizens need a break. Imagine keeping more money in your pocket with every purchase!
The numbers that we calculated in our arguments above are based on the impartial analysis presented with the measure. The measure question itself claims that almost $3 million a year will be stolen collected.
We also call this a Forever Tax because it has no sunset. In order for the sales tax to be decreased in the future, a new ballot measure vote would have to be enacted to repeal this tax.