Public works outlines special districts budgets; supervisors press for consolidation and clarity on SR-41 impact-fee accounting

Dominic Tyburski of Madera County Public Works presented the proposed fiscal 202526 2026 special districts budgets to the Board of Supervisors on June 9, saying the county currently oversees 118 road districts and 33 water and sewer districts and that fund balances vary by district.

Tyburski said Measure T has let the county supplement district funds in recent years and that last year Measure T helped resurface or treat more than 45 miles of county roads. The Public Works presentation included maps and tables showing lane miles and budget allocations by supervisorial district and a staff recommendation that the board approve the special districts budgets as presented.

Supervisors asked staff to pursue consolidation and "right-sizing" for small or underfunded districts. Supervisor McCauley emphasized that underfunded districts also reduce the county's ability to maintain vegetation and evacuation routes and said that consolidation and updated assessment rates should account for public-safety needs.

Public comment and impact-fee accounting

A public commenter, Dan Metz of Sierra Citizens for Sensible Government, asked for documents and pressed staff on several items in the road funds. Metz questioned a large increase shown in the road-impact-fee receipts (the budget shows a sharp rise to roughly $26 million in receipts this fiscal year compared with a prior multi-year average closer to $1026$12 million) and asked about carryovers tied to State Route 41. Matt Treiber and other staff responded that the higher figure reflects actual collections in the current fiscal year tied to growth on the SR-41 corridor; Treiber said the county has collected roughly $26.2 million to date in the program this fiscal year.

Staff said the county holds a portfolio of funds for SR-41 planning and projects, including federal awards and anticipated financing; Treiber said the county is tracking funds and that any transfer or interfund loan into the SR-41 project would be done under the county's ordinances with a loan document and repayment schedule and would require board action before funds are moved into construction accounts. Treiber said, "We envision all of our collected fees...we will be before this board to roll those funds...from the county regional pot into the 41 improvement through a loan process and a repayment thing." Public Works staff also noted they have purchased segments of right-of-way and are preparing the project for listing.

Next steps

Public Works said it will continue outreach to district residents about possible consolidations and rate adjustments where districts have not generated sufficient revenue to maintain roads and infrastructure. Staff promised to provide requested slides and maps to the public and to continue community engagement in areas considering consolidation.

Selected quotes

Dominic Tyburski, Public Works: "Public works department currently oversees...118 road districts and about 35 water sewer districts."

Matt Treiber (chief of development services / Public Works): "We have collected...just a little north of $26,000,000 is what they're estimating in SB 1 fund collection..." (discussion of collections and projections)

Dan Metz (public commenter): raised detailed questions about impact-fee accounting, carryovers and permitted uses.

Ending: Staff will follow up with the requested presentation materials, continue community outreach on consolidation and return with any required finance documents for board approval if the county seeks to loan funds into the SR-41 program.