Board adopts FY2026-27 budget and designates $500,000 one-time wildfire mitigation fund

The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, 5-0, on June 26 to adopt the county budget for fiscal year 2026-27, including special revenue and special-district budgets.

The motion to adopt the budget was proffered and seconded during the meeting; after no public comment, the clerk called the roll. The vote recorded Supervisors Rogers, Pus, Wahha, Gonzalez and Chair McCauley as voting "Yes." The board adopted the resolution approving the county budget.

In related action discussed before the roll call, county administration proposed a one-time designation of $500,000 from the fund balance to a wildfire mitigation program. Staff said the designation would reduce the projected FY26-27 ending fund balance from about $7.6 million to about $7.1 million but still allow the county to meet reserve targets under current projections. "That one-time designation... pushes us out a little bit," administration said, "but it does not massively impact our ability to meet our goals and our policy on reserves." (comments as transcribed).

Board members generally supported the wildfire proposal but emphasized the need for policy detail before further commitments. Several supervisors urged staff to return with a program structure and oversight, suggesting a committee similar to the one that oversees AB 109 funds and recommending flexibility to leverage grants and address countywide needs rather than restricting funds to a single district. Administration said it could return with a program framework for board consideration in July or August.

The board also directed staff to come back after the close of FY25-26 for consideration of a fund-balance designation for the sheriff's office's deferred communications and firearms replacement projects, contingent on year-end net county cost savings, and to prepare a board item on continued participation with the Sanwin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority (name transcribed from the meeting record).

What happens next: staff will prepare a program framework for the proposed wildfire mitigation fund and return to the board for consideration, and administration will bring a separate item on sheriff funding after fiscal-year close.

Provenance: Motion, roll call and the staff presentation and board discussion on the wildfire designation appear in the meeting transcript where item 7A was moved, discussed and voted on.