[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6501790,"mediaKeyId","5774428-fe54ce7d3c8818a83daf4200a431c2a5","parentId",5774428,"title","Kern County supervisors honor Clerk of the Board Kathy Krause and Emergency Services Manager Georgiana Armstrong at Aug. 26 meeting","audioSeconds",60,"startMs",760000,"endMs",820000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774428-fe54ce7d3c8818a83daf4200a431c2a5&start=760&end=820","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774428-fe54ce7d3c8818a83daf4200a431c2a5/thumbnail_760000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501790/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-supervisors-honor-Clerk-of-the-Board-Kathy-Krause-and-Emergency-Services-Manager-Georgiana-Armstrong-at-Aug-26-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501790-93ef8bf339724ea38b92aee879d95d06/orig.mp4?Expires=1775169763&Signature=DXz~vXlNXS4-EuHHWXCcZfu4KOS-Kez8OzNrK851m-fDvneds7gZF1z61UcQb5~zoZbPuxEdsGMddhV5l3-Uao1q2Y-q9QDyJOOVpRU5tW4rwMfZdoUb5QPQQVbacRbiehb1hZbTM1aN5p5hi7oLTQ~vU0dm9eiT0p4n7Zab0iQQZPEt1P~oxDI9FO6qhn6r4U7mTofgJ14PHEWcXLadqMx0b0X0SUPkWnUvckNm70FgWMzF9H4~n8mXrnbvV9GENKVor0~fhrt7SXi0494FFR7zvV16Rz-RyG3v6bPhTzDrC8DkWsmgwCHJcVFSLFoG9yBD1cL40HLXh7cE0niPiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Official Kern County","date","2025-08-27T06:37:45Z","article","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a retirement resolution honoring Kathleen \"Kathy\" Krause, clerk of the board, and also recognized Georgiana Armstrong, emergency services manager for Kern County Fire, on the occasion of her retirement.

Supervisor David Couch presented the retirement resolution for Kathy Krause and moved the item; the motion passed unanimously. In the resolution the board credited Krause with 18 years as clerk of the board, noting she was appointed in June 2007 and that under her supervision the office implemented the county'9s electronic agenda packet in 2015 and an automated tracking system for board appointments in 2023.

\"Her presence will be greatly missed,\" Couch said as he read the proclamation. Krause addressed the board and described process improvements she led: reducing hard-copy agendas, implementing an automated appointments tracking program for nearly 500 board appointments and 63 boards, commissions and committees, and building customized in-house software with Information Technology Services that avoided ongoing maintenance costs.

Krause said she is leaving the office to spend time with family and thanked staff and colleagues. During the recognition, former clerk Denise Pinnell and retired Marine Charles Shinn also spoke in Krause'9s praise; Pinnell called Krause'9s service \"notable\" and Shinn said she was the longest-serving clerk in county history.

Supervisor Jeff Peters later presented a certificate to Georgiana Armstrong, who the board credited with 22 years of dedicated service as emergency services manager with Kern County Fire and with leading coordination during emergencies including wildfire incidents, earthquakes and public-safety power shutoffs. Peters said Armstrong had been \"the steady hand at the tiller\" during disasters and praised her coordination across agencies and advocacy for affected communities.

Sheriff Donny Youngblood, among others, spoke to Armstrong'9s knowledge and noted that replacing her role would be difficult. Armstrong told the board she is confident in the team that will carry the work forward.

Formal action
The board approved the retirement resolution for Kathy Krause by motion and recorded unanimous approval. The certificate for Georgiana Armstrong was presented and remarks were entered into the public record; no formal vote was required for that presentation.

Why this matters
Krause and Armstrong'9s departures remove long-tenured, administrative and operational experience from county government. The board and county staff emphasized process improvements tied to cost savings and operational continuity: staff said the electronic agenda system saved more than $100,000 annually and the in-house appointment tracking system incurred no recurring maintenance cost.

Ending
The board recessed the regular agenda after the recognitions and later proceeded with the budget hearing and other business. Krause and Armstrong were publicly thanked by multiple supervisors for long service to Kern County.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kern County Board of Supervisors 9:00 a.m. meeting for Tuesday, August 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a retirement resolution for Clerk of the Board Kathleen (Kathy) Krause, credited with 18 years of service and major process improvements, and presented a certificate honoring Georgiana Armstrong on her retirement after 22 years with county emergency services.","taxTitle","Kern County, California","taxId",2913,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501795,"Kern County supervisors adopt $4.5 billion FY 2025–26 budget; boosts public safety, parks and homelessness services",4970,3600000,8570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5774428-fe54ce7d3c8818a83daf4200a431c2a5&start=3600&end=8570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5774428-fe54ce7d3c8818a83daf4200a431c2a5/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6501795/Kern-County/California/Kern-County-supervisors-adopt-45-billion-FY-202526-budget-boosts-public-safety-parks-and-homelessness-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501795-6d37106f6a61c47a457f737f3b2f0c5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775169763&Signature=NFvHyA3KKAyA6vSQRgy~QBID4lPHTIWPHzTlD1X2Wc9zXTneVmIRgIm9-f0uIVyYny5fNyM6zoygJPUcm9Gb3~3kOEBnCOqTXzqnJwwa4r-mj0kin2jDIWF09IUQgHgftfpIHmbbwoWgaTtJCl8eaX9NtASFF71J5zCgNi0OxtZmSWXjfio1yEXtpraVZvfsjDK9wPa5Q~7OfI7U7VtHxCQu0QHaJpcpngPBeNl1PSKUnfR5NIxJia0tjhmvinVen0gp4Yh8Gj4eWf-MTPK8Ra5AcrCAQQUlQ8e8qgJ8irA4ZexNs6cMMl-67gWx8rdOx1bFC-YPux-ixFX6LQotGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted the county'9s fiscal year 2025'26 recommended budget totaling $4,500,000,000, funding public safety, infrastructure projects and expanded homelessness services while adding to county reserves.

The budget passed by unanimous vote after a public hearing and presentations from county budget staff. Alex Alva, the county'9s budget director, told the board, \"The county's fiscal year 25 26 recommended budget totals 4,500,000,000,\" and described it as supporting 8,669 authorized positions and a net staffing increase of 31 positions.

The budget document and presentations show the county will allocate roughly $1.2 billion to public protection (28.3% of the total), $1.03 billion to public assistance, and $955 million to health and sanitation functions. Staffing expenses are estimated at $1.3 billion and operating expenses at $1.9 billion. The general fund total is $1.08 billion.

Why this matters: Kern officials said the package aims to maintain mandated essential services while responding to local priorities, including Measure K-funded public safety and community investments. The budget also adds reserves to address future liabilities and volatility in state and federal funding.

Key allocations and changes
- Public safety: Measure K continues to underpin local public-safety investments. The sheriff'9s office budget includes Measure K funding for recruitment and retention; presenters cited approximately $24,700,000 allocated for sheriff priorities. The sheriff-coroner budget totals about $345,100,000.
- Fire services: The Kern County Fire Department is fully funded to keep stations open and adds positions. The county will receive an estimated $7.7 million in additional CAL FIRE cooperative funding tied to statewide scheduling and will add personnel including 40 wildland firefighters and 9 positions for a station serving the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
- Homelessness and shelter: The budget includes $7.7 million in ongoing investments for emergency shelter and homeless programs, including support for the M Street Navigation Center (147 beds), a safe parking program, a tiny-home village (Hope on Hart, 50 units) and safe camping spaces.
- Capital and maintenance: The recommended budget lists 171 capital and major maintenance projects totaling about $144 million, with roughly 72% managed by General Services. Park improvement allocations include $2.5 million in Measure K for multiple parks and $33 million over time for facilities improvements at more than 20 parks.
- Libraries and animal services: Nearly every branch is budgeted to be open five days a week with Measure K and partnerships. The county included $1.6 million for design of a new animal services facility and an ongoing $1 million for spay/neuter programs supported by general fund and Measure K.
- Behavioral health and social services: The behavioral health budget contains $15.5 million to implement Senate Bill 43 (effective Jan. 1, 2026) and $66 million for Behavioral Health Services Act transition planning. The Department of Human Services administration budget totals $307.7 million; its direct aid budget totals $394 million.
- Revenues and reserves: The recommended budget reflects a $75 million (1.71%) increase over the prior adopted budget and projects tax revenue of $763.4 million (including ~$589 million property-related revenue). Staff said one-time sales-tax adjustments in 2024'25 included a reallocation of more than $20 million that inflated last year'9s collections; county staff said they treat such items as one-time and avoid counting them as ongoing revenue. The budget adds $38.9 million in general fund reserves for liability and Measure K stability.

Board discussion and public input
Assistant County Administrative Officer Elsa Martinez framed the budget as a forward-looking policy document and cautioned the board and public about differences between audited financial statements and budgetary carry-forward. Martinez said, \"The budget is a plan for the upcoming fiscal year,\" and explained the county'9s use of designations and carry-forward to manage timing and restricted funds.

Supervisors questioned staff about sales tax volatility and one-time revenues; staff answered that the county'9s sales tax consultant and audits inform projections and that one-time receipts are used conservatively and often placed in reserves or applied to one-time expenses. Supervisor David Couch asked staff to quantify the components of an apparent drop in ongoing sales tax; staff said they would provide a breakdown and noted a misallocation was corrected after audit.

Public commenters addressed multiple budget-related concerns. Charles Shinn, a retired Marine and resident, raised privacy questions about expanded automated license plate readers funded for some East Kern cameras; Supervisor Ken Parlier responded that the sheriff'9s department described the devices as a \"force multiplier\" that can aid rural investigations and be shared with CHP and local agencies.

Formal action
By unanimous vote the board closed the budget hearing and approved the resolutions adopting the fiscal year 2025'26 county budget, approving Employer Training Resource and Community Development budgets, and amending the county salary ordinance as presented. The motion was moved by Supervisor David Couch and seconded by another board member; the final vote was recorded as all ayes (Chair Leticia Perez; Supervisors David Couch, Jeff Peters, Ken Parlier and Zack Flores).

What happens next
County staff said departments will continue implementing the plan, with periodic reporting and midyear reviews if changes in state or federal funding occur. The board also asked staff to return with additional detail about one-time revenue components and to coordinate follow-up on referrals, including an audit risk assessment and a constituent-services tracking project.

Ending
After the vote, county leaders thanked budget staff for the work that produced the document and closed the budget hearing. The board recessed to handle consent items and other business on the meeting agenda.","The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 26 approved a $4.5 billion recommended budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that increases staffing for fire and public safety, expands homelessness and library services, funds 171 capital projects and sets aside additional general fund reserves.","actionData","errors"]

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Kern County supervisors honor Clerk of the Board Kathy Krause and Emergency Services Manager Georgiana Armstrong at Aug. 26 meeting

Kern County supervisors adopt $4.5 billion FY 2025–26 budget; boosts public safety, parks and homelessness services