Kingsburg leaders detail Measure E spending as renewal vote nears
Kingsburg says Measure E pays for eight police jobs, fire staffing and cameras, while a June 2 vote will decide whether the 1% tax keeps bringing in $2.6 million a year.
Kingsburg officials put nearly $2.6 million in Measure E money under the microscope this week, arguing that the 1% public-safety tax pays for staffing, training and equipment the city would struggle to replace if voters let the extension fail.
Police Chief Shaun Stephens and Fire Chief Rodnie Roberts presented their 2026-27 spending plans to the Kingsburg City Council on May 20, as the renewal measure heads to the June 2, 2026 statewide primary ballot. The tax needs two-thirds approval to pass. Kingsburg first approved Measure E on June 5, 2018, with about 71% of voters backing it, and the tax took effect Oct. 1, 2018.
Stephens said the police department plans to use nearly $1.8 million in Measure E funding next year. That money helps cover eight full-time positions, including a police service technician, two lieutenants, one sergeant and four patrol officers. The plan also sets aside about $50,000 for officer training and $114,000 for materials and services, along with capital costs for body-worn cameras, dashboard cameras and Flock license plate reader or security cameras.
Councilmember Laura North warned that losing Measure E would mean Kingsburg loses those eight positions, cutting total staffing from 29 full-time employees to 21. City leaders have argued the tax has become the backbone of the city’s public-safety budget, especially because revenues are legally restricted to police, fire and emergency response uses.
The city says Measure E has historically sent between 50% and 65% of spending to police, with the rest going to fire. The Kingsburg City Attorney’s Office said the renewal would continue the Public Safety Tax Citizens Oversight Committee and require an annual report on revenue collected and how it was spent. The committee members listed by the city are Chair Michele Buckner, Vice Chair Jerry Avedikian, and members John Matic, Porfirio Chavez and Blake Nino.
On the fire side, the city says Measure E supports core services including fire protection, emergency medical response, critical equipment and 24/7 ambulances. City filings say all funds stay in Kingsburg and that groceries and prescription drugs are exempt from the tax.
Supporters say the measure has already helped Kingsburg hire 18 new police and fire positions, raise the sworn police force from 12 to 25 officers and expand Fire/EMS staffing from 9 to 18 full-time employees. A rebuttal filed with the county said Part 1 crimes fell 40% in 2025, which supporters tied to the added staffing.
Opposition has also taken shape. Francisco Alanis and Kat McElroy, filing on behalf of the Libertarian Party of Fresno County, argued the tax imposes $2.6 million a year on Kingsburg residents with no end date and adds pressure to households already facing high costs. In November 2025, council members debated whether the renewal should include another sunset clause, then voted not to include one. The council later voted unanimously on Jan. 7, 2026, to place the measure on the ballot as an extension, not a tax increase.
If the renewal passes, Kingsburg keeps the current funding structure through its existing sunset date of Sept. 30, 2028. If it fails, city leaders will have to decide how to replace the revenue that has been paying for police, fire and emergency response across Kingsburg.
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