Frequently asked questions
Porterville Measure U FAQ
Short answers first. Official language is linked after each one.
What is Measure U?
A proposed amendment to Porterville’s City Charter Section 61 to give the City broader authority to determine how public work projects are done.
Official Measure U ballot language
Why is this important?
California imposes expensive and unnecessary mandates when it comes to public-work projects. Measure U replaces a rigid local Charter requirement, giving more flexibility and avoiding expensive state mandates.
Why now?
Over the past decade, new intense laws and regulations have constricted Porterville’s ability to afford basic maintenance and repair. Measure U would grant the City a modern approach in navigating an increasingly expensive and complex regulatory environment.
Does this remove competitive bidding for public-works projects?
No. Measure U does not abolish competitive bidding. It allows the City to manage competitive bidding more flexibly through modern rulesetting.
Current Section 61 vs. Measure U
What does the current Charter require?
Existing Section 61 generally requires covered expenditures exceeding $5,000 to be contracted and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after notice, subject to procedures and exceptions in the Charter. That $5,000 threshold has not changed since 1971.
Current Section 61 vs. Measure U
How old is the $5,000 rule?
Section 61 began at $500 in 1926, was raised to $2,500 in 1961, and was last raised to $5,000 in 1971. It has not been updated since.
What is $5,000 from 1971 worth today?
Approximately $41,000 in July 2026 buying power, based on the federal Consumer Price Index. That makes the current threshold unusually restrictive for routine repairs and smaller projects.
Source: BLS CPI-U, 1971 annual average and July 2026
Why not just increase the $5,000 threshold?
The cost of simple maintenance projects has not increased proportionally to inflation.
What would Measure U change?
It would replace the detailed Section 61 procurement language with broader authority to perform public work using City forces, contracts, or other public agencies and to establish local purchasing and contracting procedures.
Would Porterville still be able to use contractors?
Yes. Measure U would let the City contract with more competitive local contractors instead of expensive non-local ones. Contracting would not be the only method, and it would not have to send the work out of town.
Could the City use its own employees?
Yes. Measure U explicitly authorizes that. The current Charter requires bidding out projects over $5,000, which is not always necessary and takes away funding for City jobs.
Could Porterville work with another government agency?
Yes. The proposed language expressly authorizes contracts with other public agencies.
Does Measure U raise taxes?
No. Measure U concerns the City Charter provisions governing public works and procurement. The Charter amendment itself does not establish a new tax.
Source: official Measure U ballot language
How does this benefit the People?
Everyone benefits. Keep more money in town, use tax dollars more effectively, get better infrastructure, and increase local wages and more jobs.
Does Measure U keep taxpayer dollars in Porterville?
Yes. That is essential to the measure: local control, keep taxpayer dollars in Porterville, and support more local jobs and local growth. Measure U would authorize City crews so public works are not forced into an out-of-town contractor market.
Will Measure U increase road maintenance?
Yes. Porterville has already increased road repair by using City crews and local control. The $5,000 Charter rule is the limiter. Measure U would remove that cap so the City can do more road maintenance—the most basic function of government.
Measure U and Porterville roads
Could this reduce quality of roads and projects?
No. Building codes and quality-assurance rules still apply under local and state law. Measure U would let the City set stronger local standards and open the work to a larger pool of qualified competitors, instead of a small set of expensive non-local contractors.
Does Measure U provide new road funding?
No. Measure U is not a new tax and does not create a separate road fund. It removes the Charter cap that limits how City crews can get ordinary street work done.
When will voters decide Measure U?
November 3, 2026, at the General Municipal Election.