September 24, 2024

Madera considers extending annual public review period for Measure T

In a joint statement released today by the Madera County Transportation Authority on behalf of its member agencies, the County of Madera and the cities of Chowchilla and Madera will consider resolutions to adopt mandatory 30-day public review periods for the expenditure of Measure T funds beginning in 2025. This measure will allow for additional public review and oversight in the event that Measure T is passed by voters.

The Measure T Steering Committee, which included citizen representatives from all five county supervisorial districts, unanimously adopted ballot language and an expenditure plan submitted to the MCTA Board in June 2024. During this process, a group of Madera citizens formed a Political Action Committee and submitted a petition with enough signatures to place a virtually identical measure on the ballot as a “citizen” initiative. Under California state law, this lowered the threshold for passage from a two-thirds vote to a simple majority.

The Citizen Initiative’s version of Measure T and its expenditure plan used the same language as the Measure T renewal developed by the Measure T Steering Committee. However, there was one key difference: the original version circulated by the citizen group was released before the final version was adopted by the Madera County Transportation Commission, the Madera County Transportation Authority, the County Board of Supervisors, the City of Chowchilla, and the City of Madera. The final version added additional public review opportunities as follows:

“Each jurisdiction will annually identify specific streets and roads that will be prioritized for repair and/or refurbishment and hold annual public meetings to review the proposed plan not less than 30 days prior to adoption by the local jurisdiction and the MCTA Board.”

While neither the County nor any other agencies may amend or change the language of the citizen group’s Initiative Measure T on the ballot at this point, they are all seeking to reaffirm their commitment to additional public review opportunities in the event that Measure T is adopted by voters. In this regard, the County and agencies are currently considering resolutions that call for this review period to begin in 2025 for all Measure T expenditures for as long as such revenues are received.

“We all believe it was important to make this commitment to the voters, as envisioned by the Steering Committee, and to continue improving our process as outlined in the new Expenditure Plan,” said MCTA Board Chair Leticia Gonzalez. “Our new plan calls for greater oversight, independent audits, and a significant reallocation of funds to address the condition of our local roads.”

The new Expenditure Plan allocates 80% of funds for local streets and roads, 14.5% for regional projects, 4% for transit services, and 1.5% for administration, which will include greater public outreach and reporting. It also sets aside 10% of funds for disadvantaged communities and includes provisions to ensure that the development community pays its fair share for road improvements without receiving Measure T funds.

Madera County is expected to act on this matter at its October 1st Board Meeting, with the City of Madera following on October 2nd and the City of Chowchilla on October 8th. For more information and to review and compare the expenditure plans submitted by both the steering committee and the citizens’ initiative, please visit MeasureT-2024.com.