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Fresno County supervisors table repeal of policy governing district event spending
Summary
After a contentious discussion, the Board of Supervisors voted to table a proposal to rescind Administrative Policy No. 75, which requires legal review and board approval for district-funded community-event expenditures, and directed supervisors and county counsel to draft revised language for return to the board.
At its Feb. 11 meeting the Fresno County Board of Supervisors discussed whether to rescind Administrative Policy No. 75, which requires county council review and subsequent board approval before supervisors may spend district funds on community events. Supervisor Breitfeld moved to rescind the policy but later rescinded that motion; the board instead agreed to table the matter and directed supervisors Breitfeld and Magsig to work with county counsel and return proposed revised language.
Supporters of rescission said Policy No. 75 is redundant and slows modest district-level donations. Supervisor Breitfeld said the requirement treats supervisors “like children” and prevents timely use of modest district funds for community events, noting supervisors oversee a multi‑billion dollar county budget and should be trusted to manage modest local expenditures.
Opponents said the policy provides an important layer of transparency and protection for taxpayer funds. Supervisor Pacheco said the policy creates checks and balances; she noted that even if an individual supervisor makes an error, the public views the board as a whole and the board should not be placed at additional risk. Other supervisors emphasized differences between city and county spending controls and cited internal audit and purchasing processes that can constrain quick discretionary spending.
Board members discussed possible compromises: one proposal would allow expedited placement of small-donation items on the agenda with two weeks' notice; another would permit county counsel to clear low-dollar items without a full board item unless legal concerns arose. After discussion, a motion to rescind Policy No. 75 was withdrawn and the board agreed to table the item so Supervisors Breitfeld and Magsig could work with county counsel on revised language and return it to a future meeting.
The board gave no final vote to rescind the policy; the item was officially tabled with direction to draft specific revisions for future consideration.
