Porterville committee approves Measure H and I quarterly reports; police, fire outline staffing and equipment plans

At a Porterville committee meeting reviewing third‑quarter Measure H and Measure I financial reports for fiscal year 2024–25 (as of March 31, 2025), members voted to approve both reports after hearing updates from police, fire, library and streets staff.

The reports matter because city officials say Measure H and Measure I fund major portions of public‑safety staffing and capital projects. Fire officials said the two measures cover about half the fire department’s budget and support 24 positions; police officials described an expanded outreach and enforcement team and new surveillance equipment funded in part by grant and specialty funds.

Police: SMART team expansion, contacts and surveillance

Assistant Police Chief Dominic Barto told the committee the department nearly tripled the size of its SMART (Special Methods and Resources Team) temporarily and that the unit’s work shifted more toward enforcement for people who decline services. He said, “In the first 2 weeks of May … they’ve had 409 contacts, a hundred and 2 arrests, a 25 total warrants served, 58 city ordinance citations, and 201 calls for service specifically to homelessness.”

Barto described several technology investments supported by the measures and other grants: covert pole cameras placed…