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Fresno County designates Fresno Arts Council as local partner after trustees describe reforms following multimillion'dollar loss
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Summary
Following public comment and questions about recent financial misconduct, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted April 21 to designate the Fresno Arts Council as its local partner to the California Arts Council for fiscal year 2026'27 after the nonprofit detailed leadership changes and new accounting controls.
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted April 21 to designate the Fresno Arts Council (FAC) as the county's local partner to the California Arts Council for fiscal year 2026'27 after receiving assurances from FAC leaders about new financial controls.
The designation matters because it enables the county to maintain a direct conduit to statewide arts funding and for FAC to apply for and administer grants in Fresno County. Interim Executive Director Andrea Mehl told the board the nonprofit has taken "decisive action" after recent irregularities, including terminating a former employee now subject to criminal investigation and restricting electronic payment platforms.
"We regret deeply that this loss of funds has occurred," Mehl said, adding the volunteer board has cut off certain electronic payment methods, tightened approval practices and is hiring an outside accounting firm to process payroll and payments.
Board members pressed FAC representatives on specifics. Chair Gary Breederfeld asked whether the stolen amount was being recovered; FAC board member Karen Simpson said that, "According to the court documents, full restitution is ordered," and that the organization is intensifying oversight measures, including daily monitoring of bank activity and dual signatures for checks.
Supervisor Chavez said she remains a supporter of FAC's longtime programs but urged transparency and stronger guardrails going forward. Several local artists and arts organizations told the board that FAC provides critical services in rural parts of the county, citing programs such as Arts Alive in Agriculture and Poetry Out Loud.
Mehl and board members described an immediate set of steps: termination of the employee involved, restriction of PayPal and other platforms, daily banking alerts to multiple board members, preapproval and post'review of payments, and plans to hire an outside accounting firm to transact and monitor funds. Karen Simpson, an inactive CPA and FAC board member, said FAC will also track canceled checks and investigate stale checks as a safeguard.
The board voted to approve the county designation; the motion passed in open session following the public comment period.
What happens next: FAC will remain eligible to represent Fresno County to the California Arts Council and to pursue state and federal arts funding while under the new oversight steps its board described.
Sources: Presentation and public comment at the Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting, April 21, 2026. Quotes attributed to Andrea Mehl (Interim Executive Director, Fresno Arts Council) and Karen Simpson (FAC board member, CPA).
