Supervisors pass budget with surplus

The Madera County Supervisors finalized the 2026-2027 budget, setting a historic operating budget for the fiscal year with a net increase of nearly $12 million.

For the first time in seven years, the County is operating with a surplus of more than $2 million and a record budget of nearly $600 million.

The budget reflects the County’s mission to make public safety priority number one, allocating 71 percent of discretionary revenues to public safety departments.

The budget also reflects zero layoffs for current County positions, maintaining service levels within all 21 departments.

The new discretionary reserve fund is also expected to grow to nearly $8 million by the end of this fiscal year, or June 30, 2027.

The Board will now begin discussing a potential resolution for a ballot measure to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax or Hotel Tax.

Supervisor Chair Robert Macaulay says promises were made and kept.

“When I reflect back on the promise we made to the community as a board on my first day as chair that we would deliver a balanced budget, I want to thank my colleagues and County staff that we were able to make good on that promise,” he said. “But the work is not done as we continue to serve the residents to make sure Madera County remains the best place to live, work, and play.”