# San Bernardino County (countywide) (local, San Bernardino County)

URL: https://www.californiapeople.org/local/county

- title: San Bernardino County (countywide)
- type: county

## Key findings
- **Measure I** makes the county's half-cent transportation sales tax **permanent**, 14 years before it expires. It raises about **$250M a year** now, and the extension is projected at **~$7.5B over its first 30 years**. It needs **two-thirds**. [^1][^2]
- **County Superintendent of Schools** is an open seat: **Cali Binks** (Yucaipa-Calimesa superintendent since 2013) vs. **Alex Vara** (34 years at Rialto Unified, Redlands school board 2016–2024). [^3][^4]
- Most county offices were **settled in June** and aren't on this ballot: District Attorney (Jason Anderson), Sheriff (Shannon Dicus), Assessor (Josie Gonzales), Auditor-Controller/Treasurer (Ryan Hutchison), and Supervisors in Districts 2 (Jesse Armendarez) and 4 (Curt Hagman). [^5]
- **Supervisor Curt Hagman's home was searched by the FBI on July 28**, in the same investigation that reached Ontario's airport. He hasn't been charged and has stayed in office. He isn't on this ballot. [^6]

## Measure I: Make the half-cent transportation sales tax permanent
**What it does:** Continues the 1/2-cent transportation sales tax (first passed in 1989, extended in 2004) past its March 31, 2040 end date, **with no new end date**. Money is limited to streets, highways, freeways, transit and transportation technology; administration is capped at 1%; the Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee continues. **Needs two-thirds.** [^1]

**Track record**
| Measure I | Years | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original (1989) | 1990–2010 | — | First half-cent tax |
| Renewal (2004) | 2010–2040 | ~$250M a year now | Some cities borrowed against future revenue |
| **2026 extension** | 2040 → no end date | ~$7.5B in the first 30 years | Valley split: 50% regional projects, 25% local streets, 25% operations; 1% admin cap; oversight committee continues |
[^2][^1]

**Money and conflicts:** The ordinance was adopted by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), "along with a resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors." [^1] Supporters say the tax has drawn nearly **$3B in state and federal matching money**. Critics point to **$150.9M in bond debt** in 2025, interest costs, and the I-10 Express Lanes toll project (**$929M of SBCTA money**). [^7][^8]

**Does it solve a lasting problem?** Road and transit funding is a permanent need, and this money stays local and restricted. The cost is giving up the leverage of a renewal vote, which is how voters normally hold the agency accountable. Nothing forces a vote now; the tax runs until 2040 either way.

**Both sides:** For: SBCTA and most city councils (Redlands voted to back it). Against: no organized campaign found; the SB County Sentinel has criticized SBCTA's spending.

## County Superintendent of Schools
Job: heads the county office of education, whose duties include "teacher certification, school safety inspections." Nonpartisan. [^3]

### Cali Binks
- **Key findings:** Superintendent of Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified since 2013; 36 years in education. **June primary: 38.8%.** [^3][^4]
- Reportedly endorsed by the San Bernardino County Republican Party. [^4]

### Alejandro "Alex" Vara
- **Key findings:** 34 years at Rialto Unified (aide, teacher, principal); Redlands Unified board member 2016–2024. **June primary: 31.3%.** [^3][^4]
- Read: Binks has run two districts as superintendent. Vara has school-site and board experience but hasn't run a district or county office.

## County Board of Education, Area B (west valley only)
Job: approves the county office of education's budget and hears charter-school and student expulsion appeals. It doesn't run local districts. **Only voters in Area B see this race**: parts of the west valley, including Chino and southwest Rancho Cucamonga. Areas A and D were uncontested, so those elections were canceled. [^9][^5]

### Rita Fernandez-Loof (incumbent)
- Ballot designation "Trustee / Engineer / Parent." [^9] I found no campaign site or coverage of her board record; the county board's minutes would show it.

### Miki R. Inbody
- **Key findings:** 30+ years in public education, including as a county education administrator. **Superintendent of Fontana Unified** since the 2022-23 school year, with retirement announced for December 2026. Endorsed by San Bernardino teachers' groups. [^9][^10][^11]

### Kimberly L. Watson
- "Retired educator." [^9] I found no other reporting.

## Sources
[^1]: County Counsel, Measure I impartial analysis. https://uploads.rov.sbcounty.gov/ROV/Elections/2026/1103/Measures/County/IA_SBCTA.pdf
[^2]: Redlands Community News, council backs Measure I continuation. https://redlandscommunitynews.com/news/council-backs-measure-i-continuation-plan-for-2026-ballot/article_680c400a-a50a-4ea3-95cb-abf4340ca1c7.html
[^3]: The Ballot Brief, County Superintendent. https://theballotbrief.com/state/california/san-bernardino-county/superintendent-of-schools
[^4]: Desert Trumpet, Morongo Basin candidate list (2026). https://www.deserttrumpet.org/p/local-elections-the-morongo-basin
[^5]: Ballotpedia, San Bernardino County municipal elections (2026): ,_California_(2026). https://ballotpedia.org/Municipal_elections_in_San_Bernardino_County
[^6]: KVCR, FBI search fallout (Aug 11, 2026). https://www.kvcrnews.org/local-news/2026-08-11/fbi-search-fallout-in-san-bernardino-county-shakes-up-ontario-elections
[^7]: Measure I argument in favor. https://uploads.rov.sbcounty.gov/ROV/Elections/2026/1103/Measures/County/AF_SBCTA.pdf
[^8]: SB County Sentinel, Measure I interest payments (Apr 2026). https://sbcsentinel.com/2026/04/sbcta-still-squanders-measure-i-tax-revenue-on-interest-payments/
[^9]: The Ballot Brief, County Board of Education Area B. https://theballotbrief.com/state/california/san-bernardino-county/board-of-education-area-b
[^10]: Fontana Herald News, Fontana's superintendent retires after 35 years (July 14, 2026). https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/news/fontana-s-superintendent-retires-after-35-years/article_7ab0e7b6-30da-4191-bd38-12229f4e646e.html
[^11]: SBTA endorsement list (2026). https://sbta.info/documents/2026_Election_Endorsements_SB_County_2.pdf