Irvine Co., Disneyland Are Top Measure M Bankrollers : Campaign funds: Their combined contributions of $532,300 reflect their reliance on transportation improvements.

The Irvine Co. and Disneyland, two of Orange County’s most influential firms, contributed nearly half of the $1.28 million raised by proponents of Measure M, the countywide half-cent sales tax hike for traffic improvements approved by voters last November.

According to year-end campaign finance forms recently filed with the Orange County registrar of voters, the two companies gave a combined total of $532,300--including $450,000 in loans that the companies now say need not be repaid. Most political loans usually are forgiven, but they don’t often account for such a large percentage of a campaign war chest.

Measure M’s opponents did not file a campaign finance report for the period ending Dec. 31 because they did not spend or receive more than $500, participants said.

Bill Ward, spokesman for Drivers for Highway Safety, a grass-roots group opposed to Measure M, said of the forgiven loans: “I’m not surprised. I can’t believe that anyone did not expect that to happen.”

Irvine Co. and Disneyland officials could not be reached for comment Saturday.

However, Irvine Co. officials said recently that the firm always has been supportive of efforts to fund transportation improvements and views them as a critical element in the public’s belief that continued development can be sustained in Orange County.

Both Disneyland and the Irvine Co. are somewhat dependent on traffic improvements intended to serve their projects, including, respectively, a proposed new theme park in Anaheim and expansion of the Spectrum industrial-commercial complex in Irvine.

The latest finance forms showed that Citizens for Yes on Revised Measure M spent $1,158,347, mostly for public opinion surveys, banks of telephones for calling voters, printing, mail and campaign management fees.

The documents showed cash on hand of $22,127 as of Dec. 31, with outstanding debts of $2,656.

The report showed about $60,000 was raised after the election, including $30,000 from the William Lyon Co., and $15,000 from the Fieldstone Co., both Newport Beach-based home building and development firms. The campaign also received $5,000 each from Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas Inc., an Orange engineering and consulting firm, and Pulte Home Corp. of Newport Beach. The remaining, smaller contributions were split among a variety of consulting and development firms or their employees.

Combined with previous contributions, Fieldstone gave a total of $60,420, while the Irvine Co. gave a total of $282,300, Disneyland gave a total of $250,000 and Lyon gave a total of $60,000.

The Measure M tax, which was approved 54% to 46%, is expected to raise $3.1 billion over its 20-year life. The half-cent sales tax increase takes effect on April 1.