In Tulare, public safety is not an abstract concept. It is the peace of mind a family feels when help arrives quickly during a medical emergency. It is the confidence a business owner has that trained responders are ready when disaster strikes. And it is the trust a community places in the people who answer the call, day and night.
As Tulare grows, that responsibility grows with it. The approval of Measure A will determine if your fire department continues to grow or falls short in serving our residents.
New homes, new businesses, and new neighborhoods are something to celebrate. They show that our city is moving forward. But growth also means more people to protect, more roads to cover, more buildings to serve, and more emergencies that may require a fast, capable response. Fire and emergency services must grow alongside the city if we are going to remain safe, prepared, and resilient.
Over the past three years, our department has worked aggressively to bring outside funding into the community. More than $7.5 million in federal, state, and local grant funding has helped us secure critical resources, including lifesaving cardiac monitors, a ladder truck, and a fire engine. We also secured a three-year SAFER grant that currently funds 12 firefighter positions through March 2028.
Those investments have made Tulare stronger. They have improved our ability to respond, increased safety for residents, and provided our firefighters with equipment and staffing needed to do their jobs effectively. But grants, while valuable, are temporary.
The SAFER grant is a good example of the challenge ahead. It pays for 12 firefighter positions today, but when that funding ends in March 2028, the City must decide whether it can absorb the ongoing salary and benefit costs into the General Fund. If Tulare wants to retain those positions and maintain that level of service, a stable funding plan will be essential.
That is why planning ahead matters.
Tulare needs to continue investing in long-term public safety priorities: building Fire Station 64 on the east side of the city, ordering three new fire apparatus, and developing a sustainable staffing plan. These are not luxury projects. They are necessary steps for protecting a community that is expanding.
Fire Station 64 would improve coverage in one of Tulare’s growing areas. The City already owns the property, and the project is ready to enter the design phase once a reliable funding source is identified. The City continually seeks grants and examines reserve funds, but those sources have limits. Reserves must remain available for emergencies, and grant funding is competitive, temporary, and often insufficient for major capital projects.
Meanwhile, the City is facing real financial pressure. Inflation, rising pension obligations, state mandates, and the increasing cost of fire apparatus and medical equipment are putting strain on City finances. Local revenues are not keeping pace with the cost of providing the services our residents depend on. This creates a structural deficit, meaning expenses are rising faster than ongoing revenue.
If approved by voters, Measure A would generate additional General Fund revenue that could be used to support essential City services, including fire and emergency response. Because Measure A is a general tax, those funds would not be dedicated only to the Fire Department. But the revenue could provide the City with greater flexibility to address public safety, infrastructure, and other core needs through the public budget process.
Our 2023 Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Coverage study reinforces what growing cities already understand: reliable emergency response requires the right people, the right equipment, and the right stations in the right places.
Waiting until staffing falls behind, a fire engine fails, or emergency coverage becomes strained is not responsible planning. By then, the cost is higher and the risk is greater. Tulare has an opportunity to prepare now, invest wisely, and protect its future before it reaches a crisis point.
The Tulare Fire Department will continue seeking grants, managing resources responsibly, and working hard for this community. But lasting public safety requires a long-term local commitment. As Tulare grows, we must ensure the people, facilities, equipment, and resources that protect this city grow with it.