Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tulare County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
6 issues in taxes budget with high priority
Employee health plan premium increases
The top 10 claimants account for $11.6 million in costs, led by two newborns with catastrophic congenital conditions and four cancer patients. Anthem described case management programs to manage these cases, and the board asked for a written summary going forward.
IHSS Caregiver Wages
SEIU 2015 home care providers say the county's latest bargaining offer is a five-cent raise on a $17.50 hourly wage, far below the $24.46 they calculate as local living wage. About 8,000 county IHSS providers care for elderly and disabled residents, keeping them out of hospitals and nursing homes.
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.
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.
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.
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.