The Merced County Board of Supervisors voted June 17 to keep both fire stations that serve the Dos Palos area open for 18 months and directed county staff to work with the city of Dos Palos on a plan and memorandum of understanding to clarify funding and responsibilities.

Interim County Executive Officer Mark Hendrickson told the board the item was brought back to allow more community input and to give staff direction so it can prepare the FY 2025–26 fire services contract; staff will return to the board for consideration of that contract, which would be made retroactive to July 1. "The purpose of this item today is for you to ultimately provide direction to your staff so that they can prepare the FY 25‑26 fire services contract," Hendrickson said at the start of the item.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment from Dos Palos residents, business owners and the city mayor who warned that closing either station would lengthen response times along busy Highway 152 and across surrounding agricultural areas. "This station is a lifeline for our rural area already stretched thin in emergency coverage," said Hannah Cole, who identified herself as an educator at Golden Valley High School. Matthew Jasso, a resident and member of a large local farming operation, said long fog periods and heavy commuter traffic on Highway 152 increase risk if response times lengthen.

Katie Reed, mayor of Dos Palos, described different service areas for the two stations and warned that closing the city station would hurt long‑term housing and economic development in Dos Palos. "Closing the station in the city of Dos Palos will cause financial burden to the county for years to come," Reed said.

County and CAL FIRE officials briefed the board on staffing and budget impacts. Chris Trinidad, unit chief for CAL FIRE and county fire chief, explained the staffing model used in county cooperative agreements: "Two‑zero references that there's 2 people on duty every day on a fire engine; zero factor is the staffing factor ... it takes 3 bodies per seat to staff that seat 7 days a week, 365 days a year," Trinidad said, summarizing how the county computes full staffing needs. Assistant Chief Mark Pimentel told the board that recent use of one‑time fund balance has allowed the county to keep stations staffed but that the fire fund balance is being drawn down.

Supervisor Krystin Silvera moved to continue funding both stations and initially proposed a three‑year commitment with a revisit at the end of that period. After debate and amendments from other supervisors — including calls for a shorter check‑in period and a requirement that Dos Palos formalize how sales tax revenue would be used — the board approved a compromise motion to maintain both stations for 18 months with a 30‑day progress check on the city's commitments and an explicit direction for staff to pursue a formal agreement. The motion was seconded and carried by the board.

The motion directs county staff to work with the city on a memorandum of understanding or other written commitments so the board can evaluate whether the city is contributing its share of the cost and pursuing development, impact fees or other revenue sources to fund long‑term fire operations. The board asked for a near‑term status report and for staff to bring the FY 2025–26 vehicle staffing/contract back for formal action.

Board members debated fiscal sustainability as the primary concern. Supervisor John Perreira warned that county fire funding is not on a sustainable path and emphasized the need for the city to formalize its plan. Supervisor Daron McDaniel said the county's responsibility is to the unincorporated areas and urged the city to “step up with their civic responsibility.” Supervisor Pedroso and others emphasized public safety and the operational difficulties created by single‑station coverage over a very large area.

The board's direction leaves both the county facility at the Dos Palos Y (often referred to in the record as the county station) and the City of Dos Palos station open during the 18‑month period. Staff told the board that if the city pursues ownership or a different operating model — for example, transitioning the city station to a city‑owned, single‑person staffed engine while the county provides support — that option could be part of negotiations. Officials also noted the financial range for a fully loaded full‑time equivalent position is roughly $170,000–$250,000 with benefits, depending on placement and tenure.

The board vote carried and the motion was implemented; staff were directed to return with contract language, cost details, and a clear schedule for the 30‑day check‑in and the subsequent reports required to monitor progress.

A separate staff presentation during the meeting laid out the fire fund's recent use of fund balance to maintain staffing; Assistant Chief Pimentel said last year the county placed approximately $5 million into the fire fund to keep operations running while reductions to staffing at a number of stations had previously decreased apparatus needs. Pimentel cautioned that fund balance will continue to be drawn down if no sustainable revenue source is identified.

How the city and county resolve cost sharing — whether by a city contribution of sales tax revenue, impact fees, a transfer of apparatus or a transition to a city‑run station — will determine whether the county needs to revisit the decision before the 18‑month term ends.