David Richstone, CPA, Madera County Auditor Controller recently reported that the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year 2025 was completed on time, and presented Madera County’s financial position fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Auditor Controller serves as the Chief Accounting Fiscal Officer for the County, providing independent oversight and saf

In times of war, rising oil prices, and sudden market swings, many Americans begin to question whether the stock market truly reflects supply and demand. When retirement accounts fall while energy prices rise, it can feel as if the system is manipulated or disconnected from reality. Yet the truth is more complex. The modern market is shaped by global capital flows, massive investment institutions, and expectations about the future economy. Understanding these forces helps exp

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Construction crews work along Yosemite Avenue in downtown Madera. More than $20 million in coordinated improvements are either now underway or soon to begin across the city. Beneath the streets, inside aging treatment plants, and along well-worn park trails, Madera is quietly undergoing one of the most significant infrastructure transformations in its history. More than $20 million in coordinated improvements are either now underway or soon

Stated simply, the price of housing is dependent on the number of houses available and the number of people who would like to purchase a home. When the number of vacant houses exceeds the number of potential buyers, the cost of housing is relatively inexpensive. When the number of potential buyers exceeds the number of houses for sale, the price is steep. That, in a nutshell, is the dynamic called “supply and demand.” Levittowns As a rule, when the population of an area is ex

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune James Taubert Park, a new neighborhood recreation site, at the corner of Olive Avenue and Knox Street, is currently under construction. Construction is officially underway on James Taubert Park, a new neighborhood recreation site at the corner of Olive Avenue and Knox Street. The project will bring an approximately $2.3 million investment to the surrounding neighborhood, according to City officials. The park is being developed on land that b

It seems the buzzword captivating Americans these days is “affordability.” Yet everywhere you go, prices still seem to be increasing here in California. We’re all seeking relief from the high costs of living, with no end in sight. This trend is already being compounded by a hidden cost driver known as the “tort tax,” which this year totals $2,567 for each Californian. This number represents the hidden tax and the extra burden every Californian pays per year to compensate for

Executive Summary Since approximately 2010, California has experienced measurable outflows of both business headquarters and high-value capital. Independent research indicates that hundreds of corporate headquarters have relocated out of the state, while billions of dollars in personal income and wealth have moved with departing residents.  This report summarizes those trends using publicly available research, IRS migration data, and documented corporate relocations. Section

Congratulations go out to Chuck Wieland for his recent letter conveying his thoughts on the state of the economy in the good old USA. There are a few things that I do agree with him on. One is the fact that the extension of the 2017 tax cuts do help the rich, however he did fail to mention that the tax cuts helped a huge majority of the taxpayers and they definitely helped the middle class. Perhaps the ones it didn’t help are the nearly 40 percent of the people who pay little