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Supervisors approve new district fund policy to speed small public-purpose expenditures
Summary
The board approved a new policy clarifying allowable uses and disclosure requirements for the $10,000-per-district supervisor district fund; the change aims to streamline approvals and require supervisors to publicly report expenditures within 30 days.
The Madera County Board of Supervisors on June 10 adopted a revised policy governing supervisor district funds established in the 2023-24 county budget. County counsel Regina Garza told the board the new policy renames the account a "district fund," refocuses allowable expenditures on clearly articulated public purposes and removes language that previously tied expenditures to county-sponsored events.
Garza said the revised policy was intended to reduce processing delays caused by multioffice reviews. Under the new approach, supervisors would route requests to the auditor-controller with supporting documentation and then announce the expenditure at a public meeting within 30 days to provide transparency. The policy also reiterates existing conflict-of-interest and campaign-law prohibitions.
Supervisors described intended uses that include small-scale public works such as sidewalk repairs, removal of blight, sponsorship of meals at community events, assistance for local volunteer projects, public-safety and health material distribution, neighborhood-watch efforts, grants to nonprofits and emergency-response support. Supervisor Rogers noted prior use of district funds to repave fairground parking and said the fund allowed projects that might not otherwise have been possible.
The board approved the resolution on a unanimous roll call. The policy takes effect immediately and staff said the change should streamline approvals while preserving public transparency and legal safeguards.
