A: On August 5, 2024, the Clovis City Council unanimously decided to place Measure Y, the City of Clovis Public Safety/City Services Measure, on the November 2024 ballot. Measure Y is a 1% transactions and use tax (aka sales tax) measure that, if approved by voters, will provide a local source of funding that the City will be able to use to maintain our Clovis way of life.

A: The exact question as it will appear on the ballot reads as follows:

Shall the measure maintaining 9-1-1 emergency medical/police/fire/paramedic response, fire protection, police patrols; keeping public areas safe/clean; retaining local small businesses/jobs; protecting local drinking water sources; accelerating repairs to streets/roads; addressing homelessness; maintaining youth, parks programs; and other general services, by establishing a 1¢ sales tax providing approximately $28,000,000 annually until ended by voters; requiring public spending disclosure, all funds spent locally, be adopted?

A: Clovis is the safest city in the Valley and a great place to live, work, and raise a family. But our community is facing new and growing challenges from crime and homelessness coming from neighboring communities, increasing potholes on local streets and roads, and increasing costs of providing basic services.  Faced with the challenge of limited funding sources and increasing costs of providing City services, the City recently conducted a community survey to gather information from Clovis residents about their desired service priorities.

A: As part of the 2024-25 Budget development process, an online community survey was conducted from February to July, 2024 to gather feedback from the community on desired priorities. Over 800 responses were collected, and based on the results, the following have been identified as top service priorities for our community: 

1. Maintaining 9-1-1 emergency medical, police, and fire response
2. Keeping public areas safe and clean
3. Maintaining the City’s long-term financial stability
4. Maintaining streets and roads
5. Ensuring emergency rescue workers have updated life-saving tools such as the “jaws of life”
6. Addressing homelessness
7. Retaining local small businesses and jobs
8. Maintaining local services

A: As outlined in a recent budget presentation, the City of Clovis has approximately the same number of firefighters and police officers as we had about 15 years ago, while our population has increased nearly 40% over that same time. This has resulted in increased 9-1-1 response times for police and fire. If approved, Measure Y will provide additional funding that could be used to help Clovis maintain the City’s standard 9-1-1 response times for medical, police, and fire calls for service throughout the entire City.

Approximately two-thirds of all calls to the Clovis Fire Department are related to medical emergencies. If approved, Measure Y will provide additional funding that could be used to help improve response times, currently as high as 11 minutes in some areas of the City [see the Fire Chief’s update to Council on May 20, 2024] to the standard of 6 and a half minutes in all areas of the City. Measure Y funding could help our City hire the needed firefighters and paramedics as well as increase the number of certified EMT firefighters and lifesaving equipment to respond to emergencies.

If passed by voters, Measure Y funds would be part of the City’s General Fund, approximately 87% of which is currently spent on Public Safety services. Measure Y funds could also be used to help Clovis retain local small businesses and jobs, protect local drinking water sources, accelerate repairs to streets and roads, address homelessness, and maintain local parks, recreational facilities, and trails so they are clean and safe. Additionally, if approved, Measure Y funds could be used to help maintain senior programs and programs for youth that provide safe and supervised activities for thousands of local kids to help keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

Measure Y includes the following fiscal accountability safeguards. It ensures public disclosure of all spending, guaranteed annual independent audits to ensure that funds are spent as authorized and required, and ensures that all funds go to the City of Clovis to benefit Clovis residents. As a locally passed Measure, Measure Y funds cannot be taken by the state, county, or other government agency.

As a 1% transaction and use tax (aka sales tax), Measure Y does not apply to necessities like rent, groceries, and prescription drugs. 

A: Measure Y will be one of the local items on your November 5, 2024 ballot. You can learn more by visiting  https://www.fresnocountyca.gov/Departments/County-ClerkRegistrar-of-Voters/Elections/Election-Information/2024/November-5-2024-Presidential-General-Election