A majority of The Collegian editorial board opposes Measure E in the upcoming March 5 primary election.

Eight of the 11 editors oppose the measure, which would raise an estimated $1.5 billion for Fresno State by increasing sales taxes by 0.25% for Fresno County residents over 25 years. Three editors choose to abstain from an endorsement.

Eight oppose

We oppose the measure because it only applies to Fresno County residents, even those with no affiliation to Fresno State. Nearly ⅕ of Fresno County residents are living below the federal poverty level, according to Cal Matters.

While it‘s true that Fresno State is $350 million dollars in deferred maintenance as of September 2023, it shouldn’t come at the expense of Fresno County residents.

Fresno County is already one of the most impoverished counties in California. A regressive tax would only make county residents fall into a deeper hole when taxpayer dollars could be funding other projects.

Even with the severe political divide in today’s generation, several Democrats and Republicans agree that Measure E would cause more harm than good.

“It sets a terrible precedent and if it passes, it will ensure that the CSU System never feels… the need to meet its financial responsibility to Fresno State because they know the financial burden has been passed on to Fresno County residents,” said Garry Bredefeld, a Republican candidate for Fresno County Supervisor for District 2.

Esmeralda Soria, an assemblymember and Democrat who opposes Measure E, says that the price for people to pay for their essential needs is already increasing.

“At a time when the cost of living is on the rise, Measure E is not the right solution for Fresno County taxpayers,” Soria told ABC30.

There is also a lack of transparency in the measure as to how taxpayer money will be spent.

“Fresno State President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval described the project list currently before the voters as ‘a draft,’” reported Fresnoland. “A new committee, formed by Fresno State, will develop the final list of priority projects. It may look different than what Measure E proponents have put forward, supporters acknowledge.”

No one knows for sure what will be on the final draft and what will be first on the priority list.

Three abstain
We abstain from this editorial board decision on Measure E because this is the second time it has appeared on the ballot, failing the first time. Now that it has been proposed for 25 years, it gives us less of an incentive to vote “YES” on it.

For two of us, Measure E is concerning because it applies to all Fresno County residents and visitors. Because the price and the time frame have increased from the first version of Measure E, we feel pressured to vote “YES” because it could reappear with a more expensive package.

At the same time, it is not fair for the entirety of Fresno County to be affected by this when not everyone is associated with Fresno State nor will they benefit from it.

One of us is an ineligible voter due to immigration status. It is up to registered voters to decide the fate of measures that are going to affect them. Measure E is a local tax increase that is going to impact Fresno County residents, yet one of our voices will not count.