HANFORD, Calif. — Millions of dollars generated through Hanford’s Measure H sales tax are now flowing into city accounts, with spending concentrated in public safety and infrastructure while a large portion remains unspent or held in reserves.
Financial records show the tax has generated about $3.39 million in fiscal year 2025, followed by roughly $5.16 million collected so far in fiscal year 2026. Together, that places total collections at well over $8 million within a short period.
A key financial move has drawn attention.
The city transferred approximately $3.25 million out of the Measure H fund into reserves, effectively setting aside a large share of previously collected revenue instead of deploying it immediately on projects or services.
Public Safety Takes the Largest Share
Spending that has occurred is heavily focused on public safety.
Police operations alone carry a budget of about $952,540, with roughly $298,000 spent so far on salaries, overtime, benefits, and equipment. Additional Measure H funding has been directed toward:
- Police vehicles and outfitting: about $848,000 budgeted
- Public safety building: about $6 million allocated
- Fire communications systems: about $849,000 budgeted
These figures place public safety at the center of Measure H spending priorities.
Infrastructure Projects Total in the Millions
The city has outlined approximately $15.45 million in Measure H-funded capital projects. These include:
- Pavement rehabilitation: about $2.6 million
- Pavement preservation: about $3 million
- Street, sidewalk, and corridor improvements: spread across multiple projects
- Fire station upgrades: about $600,000
Despite the scale of these allocations, only about 31.6% of capital funds have been spent so far, leaving the majority of funding still unused.
Parks and Community Spending Remain Smaller Portions
Compared to public safety and infrastructure, parks receive a smaller share of Measure H funding:
- Park maintenance: about $120,000
- Existing park improvements: about $280,000
- Additional park-related maintenance funding: about $160,000
Other community-related spending includes:
- Code enforcement: about $120,000 budgeted
- Community cleanup programs: about $100,000
Large Gap Between Funds Collected and Funds Used
One of the clearest takeaways from the data is the gap between money collected and money actually spent.
- More than $5 million collected this fiscal year alone
- Over $3.25 million moved into reserves
- Only a portion of multi-million dollar project budgets currently spent
Much of the funding remains either reserved or allocated to projects that have not yet been fully executed.
Who Oversees Measure H Funds
Oversight of Measure H is structured across several layers, each with a different role in how the money is controlled, managed, and reviewed.
At the top level, the Hanford City Council holds the primary authority. The council approves the budget, determines how Measure H funds are allocated, and ultimately decides which projects or departments receive funding.
Day-to-day administration is handled by the city’s executive and financial staff. The City Manager and finance department manage the funds, process expenditures, track revenues, and ensure spending follows the adopted budget.
Measure H also includes an oversight board, created to provide transparency. This board reviews how funds are used and whether spending aligns with voter intent, but it does not have authority to approve or reject spending decisions.
In addition, independent auditors periodically review Measure H finances to confirm that revenues are properly recorded and that expenditures fall within allowable categories.
Together, this structure places decision-making with elected officials, administration with staff, and review with oversight and auditing bodies.
Audit Finds Spending Within Approved Categories
An independent financial review found that revenues were properly recorded and that expenditures reviewed were consistent with approved uses tied to Measure H.
Public Access to the Records
The financial data, reports, and supporting documents referenced in this article are publicly available through the City of Hanford. These include fiscal reports, budget updates, and independent accountability reviews tied to Measure H.
Readers can access and review the full set of documents, including detailed breakdowns of revenues, expenditures, and transfers, through the city’s official portal:
https://hanfordca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2418/files/attachment/5305
These records provide a comprehensive look at how Measure H funds are collected, allocated, and tracked over time.
Francisco Ramirez is the founder of Kings Network News and creator of Kings Network Business, a platform that blends business networking, community support, and social media to uplift local entrepreneurs.
As a former Mayor of Hanford, California, he launched the Winter Wonderland event and brings over 20 years of business consulting experience. He is also a motivational speaker, life coach, strategist, author, podcaster, and skilled web and graphic designer.
He created The Invisible Kid: Courage to Succeed, a seminar on self-esteem and anti-bullying that has inspired youth across the region. Through media and consulting, Francisco empowers others to lead, grow, and make an impact.
