FRESNO (KMJ) — Fresno Mayor Lee Brand has pulled his spending plan for SB1 funds from Thursday’s Fresno City Council agenda, following a public feud by councilmembers over where the money should be spent.
The split over where the gas-tax money was distributed started on Monday, when a group of councilmembers representing areas south of Shaw Avenue collectively voiced their opposition to a plan they said favored areas to the north (click here to read more).
“It’s a plain fact that the Mayor proposes to give the richest part of the city, which is north-east Fresno, the same amount as the central-south part of the city,” explained Councilmember Miguel Arias.
“Which is, for us, astonishing and completely unacceptable that would treat such distinct needs exactly the same way.”
On Tuesday, councilmembers representing areas north of Shaw Avenue rejected that suggestion.
“Everybody who pays for gas pays taxes…we pay plenty of taxes in order to have our streets repaired,” said Councilmember Garry Bredefeld.
“Those streets are in great need of repair. There have been many streets that have been ignored for many many decades. Many streets are unsafe to travel and so those tax dollars ought to go there.”
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Lee Brand announced he was taking the spending proposal out of Thursday’s Fresno City Council agenda to instead start a discussion with councilmembers.
Brand also expressed concern about how the situation played out.
“We cannot allow this funding to be held hostage because of partisan disagreement and run the risk that significantly altering our plan might jeopardize Fresno’s share of SB1 funding.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
