Tulare County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tulare County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.