Tulare County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tulare County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Local Election Results
Tulare County is posting live election results for county supervisor seats, city council races, and ballot measures. If you vote there, these races decide who writes and enforces local rules for the next few years, so it is worth checking who is winning.
FEMA reimbursement for 2023 floods and 2020 fire secured
The county and several special districts are still waiting on FEMA reimbursements from the 2023 storms, with about $13 million owed to the county. Commissioners described months of no communication from FEMA and asked for a detailed status report at the June meeting.
Matheny tract water and sewer consolidation
East Orosi's tap water is contaminated with nitrates, so residents rely on bottled water while the county runs the system as administrator. The $13 million project to connect East Orosi to the Orosi PUD finally broke ground after 20+ years.
City Council Election
Tulare voters are deciding three city council seats, with three candidates in the running. The results matter because the new council could change how the city votes on local issues and budget priorities. If you live in Tulare, this is the local race that shapes day-to-day decisions.
Election Guide
It’s Election Day in California, and the Visalia Times-Delta has a guide to what’s on your 2026 ballot and what each measure actually means. If you’re voting in Tulare County, this is your quick cheat sheet before you head to the polls.
Caldwell 99 interchange groundbreaking
Caltrans' interchange project is now expected to start in October 2026 and take about three years, affecting the Sequoia Gateway commercial area. Value engineering may shorten the northbound off-ramp closure to as little as a month instead of the full construction period.
Deed fraud protections — ordinance and recorder notification program
Scammers can forge deeds and steal your home title without you knowing. Under SB 255, the county will now mail property owners a notice within 30 days whenever a deed, mortgage, or deed of trust is recorded on their property — and the new ordinance requires parcel numbers on the first page so the system works reliably.
Election Results
Tulare County's key races are being called, and the results will shape who runs local government for the next term. If you care about budgets, services, or local policy, this is the scoreboard to watch.
Eight-foot wall for gated compound near Highway 137 (PZV 26045)
A couple developing a six-parcel gated residential compound near Tulare got permission for a taller-than-normal block wall to block highway noise, stray vehicles and ditch-side trespassing.
Monson ag hauling facility dispute (PSP 26023)
Neighbors say the Nagra site is really a commercial truck terminal, not an ag service business, and worry about heavy truck traffic at a congested rail crossing on Avenue 384. The commission punted, ordering staff to verify the ag claims (including receipts) before deciding. Expect this one back.
Rural land divisions and small-lot zoning
Four property owners won approval to divide agricultural and residential land — from a small Orosi commercial lot to a 280-acre farm gaining a homesite. These splits shape where future homes and businesses can go in unincorporated areas.
Goshen development and infrastructure
The county approved the final map and improvement agreement for Phase 4 of Tierra Linda Holdings' Goshen subdivision and formed an assessment district to pay for street maintenance there.
Countywide zoning code overhaul (Ordinances 3672/3673)
First major rewrite of agricultural and residential zoning since 2012, affecting 32,000 parcels and 92% of county land. Adds zoning matrices, updates definitions, and raises event-neighbor notification from 300 to 1,200 feet.
AB 109 criminal justice realignment funding, FY 2026/27
Nearly $29.5 million distributed among inmate healthcare, pretrial court, Sheriff, Probation, and Community Corrections reserves.
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.
ICE access and Truth Act transparency
Annual community forum on federal immigration access to county jail and probation custody. Sheriff data show 26 of 404 ICE requests led to transfers in 2025; residents argued courthouse ICE activity isn't captured.
Seville Community Park Push
The Board authorized seeking up to $8.5 million in Statewide Park Development Round 5 grant funds for improvements to the Goshen community park.
Filipino American History Month recognition
The Board proclaimed October 2026 as Filipino American History Month, honoring the Filipino farm workers who helped build the Central Valley's agricultural economy.
SJV Biodiesel assessment appeal settlement
California Dairies settled more than a billion dollars of assessed value across seven appeal calendars by agreement with the Assessor, avoiding contested hearings. Stipulated values lock in the taxable base for those years.
Deer Creek flooding threat to Alpahtchi and Allensworth
The board again reaffirmed the county's local emergency declaration for winter storms and flooding, keeping emergency response and recovery authorities in place.
Aging flood pumps and capital improvement program
About $2.25 million in disaster recovery mitigation money will standardize and replace failing storm pumps — at least four have already 'self-selected' for replacement this year. Implementation is expected around 2028.
Streambed permitting breakthrough with Fish and Wildlife
NOAA projects a 61% chance of El Niño this summer, making channel maintenance urgent. The district is still waiting on Fish and Wildlife routine maintenance agreements and exploring emergency declarations as a workaround.
Permanent supportive housing capacity nearly exhausted
The county has 235+ behavioral health beds and 136 more coming online at the renamed Monarch facility, but can't force people to accept them. Members and staff discussed how relationship-building at shelters and warming centers might get more unsheltered people into beds and treatment voluntarily.
HAP Round 7 homelessness funding allocation
Tulare County has been tentatively granted HHAP-6 funds, but the state has earmarked them for interim housing sites only, and actual cash may take about four months after the agreement is signed. Meanwhile, HHAP Round 7 would be roughly half of Round 6, and a proposal to carve out shares for small cities drew pushback from members.
Strathmore flooding at Friant-Kern Canal crossing
A new calibrated study found the Strathmore storm drain system is dramatically undersized where the creek crosses the Friant-Kern Canal, recommending upsized pipes, expanded ponding basins, and possibly more Success Lake capacity. Cost estimates are the next step.
Developing 2026–2027 El Niño Event emergency preparedness
The county has proclaimed a local emergency ahead of the developing El Niño event to position itself for storm and flood response. The Board ratified that proclamation and let county agencies fast-track purchases of emergency supplies and equipment.
Proposition 1 housing bond on the ballot
Members discussed the National Low Income Housing Coalition gap analysis showing only about 25 affordable units per 100 extremely low-income renter households, and a Self-Help Enterprises plug for Proposition 1 on the November ballot to fund more affordable housing.
Leadership of County Behavioral Health Services
Tulare's brand-new shelter holds an open house June 5 with residents moving in by early summer. The county's behavioral health urgent care center has its roof and walls and should open by year's end, with the larger Casa Grande campus targeting 2027.
FEMA Disaster Recovery Response
Supervisor Micari slammed FEMA for stalling on roughly $100 million in 2023 flood reimbursements and said he'll bring a blunt protest letter to the board and regional and statewide agencies.
Tipton Well No. 6A Completion Project
No bids came in for the Tipton well project, so the county awarded the construction contract to Travioli Construction for up to $750,570 using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant Applications
Supervisor Micari issued a blunt public safety warning about speeding and collisions on Highway 190, urging drivers to slow down and supporting CHP motor enforcement.
Red Ribbon Week drug prevention
The county proclaimed October 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week, with a free family event at Mooney Grove Park on October 24 and prevention programs reaching an estimated 100,000 students.
County cybersecurity posture
IT staff reported local governments are now the most-targeted hacking victims, with public sector break-ins rising from 36% to 61% of breaches. The county blocks tens of thousands of phishing emails monthly and joined a no-cost state monitoring partnership worth roughly $300,000 a year commercially.
Three Rivers road acceptance
The board vacated unused Canyon Drive and Quail Run Drive rights-of-way in South Fork Estates Unit 2, a subdivision approved in 1985 whose third unit was never built. Owners must consolidate lots and prove legal, physically viable access by December 31, 2029. A property owner described a private fire-access road to the cemetery as an escape route.
Sheriff-DEA task force and dispatch agreements
The sheriff's office locked in a five-year DEA task force deal and Lindsay signed on for county emergency dispatching through 2031.
Data center moratorium and future zoning rules
Supervisor Micari raised concerns about a proposed data center at the Tulare County fairgrounds and said county staff will bring a temporary moratorium on data centers for the board to consider soon.
Drought conditions and well permits
California is officially out of drought for the first time in recent memory, but 142 Tulare County households still get hauled water and about 1,600 rely on bottled water deliveries.
SGMA implementation and Tule subbasin probation
The County is lending up to $500,000 to the newly reorganized Tule East GSA, repayable over about five years, after the East Thule GSA dissolved quickly. Groundwater banking opportunities discussed could eventually bring new water to southwest Tulare County.
2025 Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report
Mandarins of nearly every variety are suffering substantial drop losses, with early suspicion pointing to weeks of cool, wet, foggy weather, though pathologists are checking for fungal disease. The commissioner is required to report losses meeting certain thresholds to the state, and industry surveys of farmers are underway.
Behavioral health services contracts and grant oversight
The state's BHSA overhaul is shrinking county behavioral health flexibility and money — the state now keeps 10% off the top (about $6 million more), prevention funding dropped from 30% to 5%, and the county's housing funding bucket is already over capacity. Crisis services may also stop being fully reimbursed, a potential $2 million-a-year hit.
Countywide road completions and slurry seal
The board formally accepted five finished road and bridge projects and launched the 2026 Slurry Seal Program to resurface streets at locations across the county, plus a new stop sign near Dinuba.
Springville subdivision stuck on water service
Sierra Ridge Estates' 54-lot map got a five-year extension because Del Oro Water Company can't yet provide adequate water service — the final map can't be approved until utilities confirm service.
Contractor's storage yard near Tulare
A landscaping business won permission to build a shop and store 12 trucks and 12 trailers on Avenue 228 in an ag zone. A neighbor complained about noise, the property-line fence, and traffic, so the county added noise mitigation limiting loud work near sunrise and sunset.
Mineral King Road & Wishon Drive Permanent Restoration Bid Dispute
The board split over whether to waive a paperwork error by low bidder Rehak Construction, whose bid was $115,000 below the next bidder. After one failed vote, the contract went to Rehak for $317,001.62, with repairs to be reimbursed at 88% by the federal emergency relief program.
IHSS Caregiver Wages
An SEIU Local 2015 home care provider told the Board that more than 8,000 IHSS workers in the county struggle with the cost of living and asked the Board to invest in higher wages when contracts are negotiated.
Employee health plan premium increases
The preliminary budget projects $161 million in revenue and a $1.3 million positive balance, but assumes big cost trend increases — 8% on Anthem coverage and 6% on Kaiser. Member counties will use these numbers as they build their own budgets.
2027 Assessment Appeals Calendar
The board set the hearing schedule for property assessment appeals next year, with minor changes. These are the dates residents and businesses can contest their property valuations.
Dollar Tree assessment appeals denied
This meeting decided the fate of dozens of property tax assessment appeals — some postponed, some withdrawn, one denied for no-show, and twenty dismissed as duplicates. Property owners with pending appeals should note that missing your hearing means automatic denial.
2026 Point-in-Time Count Results
Tulare County counted 1,023 people experiencing homelessness in January 2026, down 13% from the year before — the second straight annual decline. Street homelessness dropped from 890 to 677, likely reflecting new low-barrier shelters, but smaller towns like Dinuba and Exeter saw increases.
Public Health Linkage During Homeless Counts
The count found 20 people reporting HIV/AIDS, up from 12 last year, prompting discussion about getting public health nurses and resource materials to outreach teams and navigation centers.