Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tulare County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
15 issues in taxes budget
FEMA reimbursement for 2023 floods and 2020 fire secured
The Sultana storm drain is done; a Kings River study, storm pump standardization backed by $2 million in grant funds, the Friant-Kern Canal project, and two FEMA flood studies (Antelope Creek, Deer Creek/White River) are in various stages — with FEMA funding uncertainty looming.
Forcum-Mackey construction contract increases
Two big county building projects cost more than planned: the Goshen Fire Station grew by about $536,000 and the Assessor relocation by about $40,000 due to unforeseen conditions.
State legislative developments affecting the county
Three state water bills remain alive this session — AB 2180, SB 1125, and SB 1417 — while several others died or were suspended. The subcommittee took no position on any of them.
SJV Biodiesel assessment appeal settlement
SJV Biodiesel's four assessment appeals were settled through a stipulation with the county assessor, locking in taxable values without a contested hearing. The settled net taxable values range from about $5.96 million to $13.6 million.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Response
Supervisor Micari reported the county's pointed letter to FEMA finally got a response after a year and a half of silence on disaster recovery questions.
IHSS Caregiver Wages
Caregivers told the Board a proposed 10-cent raise won't cover rising costs — 80% say they work multiple jobs. They're asking for a livable wage in the next contract.
FY 2026/27 County Budget Adoption
The county's $2.26 billion budget funds public safety, health and human services, and 4% raises for elected officials and staff. Only about $256 million is truly discretionary — most goes to public safety. CAO Britt flagged future risks: federal HR 1 cuts could push people losing Medi-Cal back onto county indigent health care, and pending AB 690 could add $2-5 million a year in conflict-defender costs.
2026-27 Assessment Roll Grows 4% to $55 Billion
Tulare County's property tax roll is up about $2 billion to $55.08 billion, with residential values leading growth at nearly 7%. At roughly 1% under Prop 13, that's about $550 million in countywide tax revenue — and it affects what every property owner's assessment looks like.
Remote meeting attendance to fix quorum problems
The subcommittee discussed adopting a resolution to stream Water Commission meetings online, similar to the flood control commission, though elected members would still be required to attend in person.
Flood Control District budget squeeze from liability insurance
The district takes in about $1 million a year in property tax but will pay roughly $790,000 a year in self-insured liability costs through 2031 after past flood-related claims. That leaves about five years of essentially no net revenue, with projects funded from one-time reserves.
Fiscal Year 2027 audit plan selections
The county's internal audit office is fully staffed again and will spend about 3,330 hours on audits this year. The committee picked the District Attorney's payroll and Solid Waste cash receipts for in-depth audits based on the annual risk assessment. Cash handling at solid waste sites has had shortages and overages, which drove that pick.
Updated Internal Audit Charter under new global standards
The audit office rewrote its charter to match the Institute of Internal Audits' new global standards, spelling out the department's independence, authority, and duty to report to the audit committee. A peer review of the department is also scheduled this year.
Measure R renewal on the horizon
Supervisors Micari and Vander Poel warned the 30-year Measure R half-cent sales tax — which has delivered billions for county roads — is past halfway and will need voter renewal, in a tough tax climate.
Statutory filing deadlines leave no room for hardship appeals
A business owner hit by a yearlong road closure and Southern California fires asked the board to accept her late appeals for 2022-2024. Board members explained that state law strictly limits filing deadlines and disaster-relief windows, leaving the board no discretion — a frustration for taxpayers who miss the window.
Shrinking funding and rising recidivism
People placed into housing through earlier ERF rounds are timing out and falling back into homelessness — recidivism is over 30 percent in Continuum of Care programs. With federal HUD dollars shifting away from permanent housing and Emergency Housing Vouchers ending in December, members urged helping tenants boost income and coordinating scarce vouchers across agencies.