Kings County staff outline costs, risks and options in Avenal fire-services study session

Kings County administrative staff and the county fire chief detailed operations, legal constraints and finances for fire protection in the City of Avenal during a board study session July 1, 2025. The presentation reviewed the historic subsidy the county has provided Avenal, the mechanics of the county’s property-tax “credit,” and operational limits on mutual- and automatic-aid agreements.

The county’s chief administrative officer, Carrie Martinez, said the county has continued to provide fire protection for Avenal since the most recent contract expired June 30, 2024, and that the county has provided Avenal $425,000 so far for the out-of-contract year. "Throughout all the contracts, the city of Avenal has been subsidized from the county," Martinez told the board, and staff offered a proposed four-year contract that would apply the county property-tax credit while eliminating the county subsidy after the current retroactive year.

Why this matters: the session turned into an extended public conversation about whether Avenal should remain with Kings County Fire or establish its own municipal department. County staff argued the county’s long-run cost structure and state rules limit the county’s ability to absorb growing personnel and retirement costs; city officials and residents said local control and a new sales-tax measure (Measure A) are intended to improve local services and fiscal stability.

County presentation and legal/operational limits

Alex C. Walker of county administration and County Fire Chief John Chamberlain walked the board through legal and operational constraints. Walker summarized the county’s revenue mix and explained how a portion of county property-tax receipts has been applied as a policy-level credit to Avenal under a standing tax-share practice. Walker said that tax-share dollars the county applies to Avenal’s bill are a policy choice, not a legal obligation.

Chief Chamberlain described the differences between mutual aid and automatic aid and stressed that "mutual aid ... is not reimbursable. Most people don't realize that." He told the board the county cannot reliably send resources away from its own needs and that automatic-aid agreements require compatible training and equipment, and could affect ISO ratings and insurance costs.

Costs and staffing drivers

County staff provided a station-level cost accounting for Fire Station 12, which serves Avenal. Staff said Station 12 maintains two on-duty positions (a captain and an engineer) at all times through three rotating shifts and that the station’s annual total cost in the most recent full year was approximately $1.4 million. That total includes direct staffing, operating and state‑approved indirect (administrative) rates, and a set‑aside for vehicle and equipment depreciation.

Martinez and finance staff pointed to four drivers of increasing costs: higher salaries and benefits following a countywide compensation study, rising retirement contributions under CalPERS (described in the presentation as a large and growing share of total compensation), inflation in operating costs, and a stagnation of reimbursements for out‑of‑county incident responses.

Proposed contract terms

The county presented two versions of a proposed four‑year contract (one with a six‑month termination clause and one with a 90‑day termination clause the city requested). The proposal would: (a) apply the county’s property‑tax credit to the contract, (b) treat the prior out‑of‑contract year as a retroactive first year, and (c) include modest annual adjustments (a 2% escalator on total expenses and a separate annual adjustment on the estimated property‑tax credit). County staff said the proposal would eliminate the county’s direct subsidy after the retroactive year while continuing the credit.

Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized implementation details that would affect budgeting and transitions. "I am currently holding positions open because I don't know what this looks like," Chief Chamberlain said, describing the operational difficulty of planning if termination windows are short. Several supervisors said a 90‑day termination provision would be unmanageable for a smooth transition and expressed a preference for a longer notice period.

City officials and public comments

City of Avenal officials and many residents spoke at length during the public-comment portion of the study session. Assistant Police Chief Robert Navarez (public safety manager for Avenal) said the city’s presentation to its voters and residents initially showed station costs the city considered unaffordable; he later noted county staff reduced several line items after negotiation.

Mayor Álvaro Preciado and other city representatives said Measure A (a local transactions and use tax passed by voters in November 2022) was intended to fund public safety and local projects but would not fully offset the county’s contract price. Preciado and other city speakers described the city’s interest in building a municipal fire department staffed with career firefighters rather than a volunteer force; several residents said they are fearful of service interruptions during any transition.

Residents at multiple town halls and the county meeting asked the board and city council for clearer, consistent public messaging on what the county has subsidized, what Measure A covers and how much a new municipal department would actually cost. Sheila Verdugo, an Avenal resident, summed that concern at the county meeting: "We are afraid ... We are scared," she said, referencing uncertainty about continued, reliable emergency protection.

What the board directed

Supervisors praised staff for the detailed accounting and expressed gratitude to Kings County firefighters for their service. The board indicated it is willing to continue negotiations and directed county staff to continue discussions with Avenal and review any proposed contract changes from the city. Several supervisors said any final contract would return to the board for formal approval and that the county expects enough advance notice to plan staffing and logistics if Avenal were to transition away from county fire services.

Next steps and outstanding issues

City council members present said they planned to consider contract amendments and to return to the county. County staff said it will continue negotiations, but the board reserved final approval authority. Key open issues include: the length of termination notice the county will accept, the exact annual escalators and credit calculations to be used, capital and rolling‑stock responsibilities (including a county plan to place a new engine into Station 12 later this year), and operational mutual/automatic aid arrangements that might affect ISO insurance ratings.

The session closed without a formal board vote; staff and both governing bodies will continue to negotiate and present any final contract language to the board of supervisors before a binding change in service.

Ending

County staff made the presentation materials available on the county website and offered follow‑up meetings and town‑hall sessions. The board left the record open for negotiation and directed the CAO and fire chief to continue discussions and return any proposed contract to the board for final action.