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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Road Conditions in Pixley, Matheny Tract and Tuleville
Residents described pothole-ridden, unpainted roads in Pixley where a man fell and was injured, poor pavement in Matheny Tract, and speeding and gravel hazards near Tuleville's school bus stop — asking for Measure R dollars to be directed to their communities.
Regional Transit Agency Turnaround
The Board authorized over $10.8 million in Transportation Development Act claims for regional transit and county streets and roads in fiscal year 2025-26.
Prohousing Designation renewal
The task force mapped out its 2026 agenda: regional presentations from Fresno and Kern counties, housing element briefings from each city, a transitional rent benefit talk from Kingsview, and possibly a visit from the psychiatrist running the new crisis stabilization unit. Members flagged the core problem — almost nobody can be housed without a subsidy, and there aren't enough of them — plus worries about immigration fears skewing the point-in-time count.
HHSA Director Appointment and Leadership Transition
Natalie S. Bolin takes over the agency that runs public health, behavioral health, child welfare, and animal services. She flagged coming challenges from federal HR 1 changes and budget uncertainty, saying the agency is already preparing. If you rely on county services, this is the person steering them.
Suicide Prevention Initiative Moves to Public Health
The county is restructuring its suicide prevention work: Public Health now convenes prevention efforts under new state BHSA mandates, while Behavioral Health keeps the loss team and postvention services. A new community health coalition kicks off this winter. Local data shows a sharp spike in 2023 at 13.9 deaths per 100,000.
Tulare CARES emergency shelter opening
Visalia's low-barrier warming center served 100 people in December and logged 138 new check-ins in 17 days of February, pulling people into services. Meanwhile a new Medi-Cal benefit will pay six months of rent for homeless residents engaged in county behavioral health care, with Kingsview as the sole provider.
Porterville ag-repair permit and alleged junkyard conditions
The denied Porterville service establishment illustrates how code enforcement drives land-use decisions: a follow-up inspection showed cleanup progress but mostly non-agricultural vehicles, and neighbors described sewage dumping and fluid runoff.
California Hot Springs Resort revival
The historic resort's temporary campground and yurts were approved, and the county's economic development office tied the project to a budding South Valley tourism loop, new farmer's markets, and small-business opportunities from Porterville to Springville.
Sequoia Gateway Drive Phase 2 road project
A $1.03 million contract was awarded to build the Sequoia Gateway Drive Phase 2 road improvements west of Visalia, fully funded by Measure R sales tax money and timed with Caltrans' upcoming realignment of the Caldwell/Avenue 280 interchange.
Earlimart water system failures
Well malfunctions left the community of Earlimart without reliable water, briefly keeping kids out of school and stalling commercial growth. Repairs are done and the main well is back online, with state funding help being pursued.
Sheriff Boudreaux fitness to serve allegations
Several speakers, including two who say they were stalked by Mike Boudreaux decades ago, urged the board to investigate the sitting sheriff and place him on administrative leave, citing alleged abuse of power and a substantiated CPS report involving a child. The board has limited authority over an elected sheriff.
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.
Kaweah Delta maintenance agreement and flood control ordinance update
Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District is building four recharge basins, including the $15 million, 380-acre Hannah Ranch South. They store flood water to replenish aquifers, but FEMA reimbursement for 2023 storm damage has stalled parts of the work.
Declining state water infrastructure funding
State drinking water and sewer funds are shrinking, with a nearly $1 billion gap projected over three years. Local communities like Tipton, Tooleville, Plainview, Allensworth and Woodville still have wells out of compliance or failing.
Drought conditions and drinking water assistance
The county's bottled water program is still serving households whose wells have run dry or gone contaminated — about 1,890 enrollments since the program started, mostly contamination-related. If your private well has water problems, the drought hotline can get you enrolled.
Behavioral Health Housing Program
A new CalAIM benefit now pays up to six months of rent for Medi-Cal members in Enhanced Care Management who are homeless, unsheltered, or exiting institutions. Eligibility is narrow — tied to clinical and behavioral health risk factors — and rent payments stop after month six, so a plan for what comes next is required upfront.
Wildfire County Coordinator Program
The county's wildfire coordinator connects state priorities to local action — Firewise communities, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and GIS tools. Statewide, coordinators have helped secure over $104 million for mitigation. An extension with expanded funding comes back to the board in July.
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.
State budget cuts to health and human services
CSAC's CEO warned that HR 1 could strip health coverage from nearly 1.5 million Californians and add CalFresh work-requirement bureaucracy. Counties are asking the state for roughly $1.9 billion next year to cover mandated indigent care, eligibility staffing, and behavioral health.
Failed special districts in Plainview and Poplar
Supervisor Micari says the private Plainview water company has collapsed — broken pumps, no board — and the elected Poplar CSD is feuding with a nonprofit after a grand jury inquiry. The county says it has no legal authority over either but is trying to help anyway.
East Orosi Water System Consolidation Financing
The county ratified an amended state agreement to refine the scope of the East Orosi Community Services District water supply and infrastructure project.
2025 Road Repair and Accountability Act Project 2
The board wrapped up the Avenue 336 railroad crossing in Ivanhoe, funded the White River bridge near Fountain Springs, and awarded an $859,000 accessibility construction contract at sites countywide.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Month
Adult Protective Services received 1,920 reports of elder abuse last year. The Board proclaimed June 2026 Elder Abuse Awareness Month and highlighted caregiver burnout resources.
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.