Merced County approves agreement to continue fire protection for Livingston through 2029

The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a contract extension with the City of Livingston to continue county-provided fire protection services from July 1, 2026, through July 30, 2029, with total compensation capped at $4.7 million.

The agreement, approved without publicized roll-call details in the transcript, follows an earlier temporary arrangement put in place after the passage of a local public safety special tax, Measure L, and in response to updated Cal Fire staffing requirements. The county said the extension provides continuity of service while the city works to establish its own fire department; the agreement may be terminated early with proper notice if Livingston opens its own department prior to the 2029 end date.

County officials described the contract as a transitional approach that preserves fire protection for residents of Livingston as the city completes the steps needed to assume local firefighting responsibilities. The approved term and funding cap aim to provide a predictable funding envelope while reducing the risk of service gaps.

The transcript did not include the motion text, the names of the supervisor who moved or seconded the motion, nor a roll-call vote tally. The agreement’s effective dates and the $4.7 million compensation limit were recorded in the board summary. The extension also continues a memorandum of understanding that had allowed the city time to transition after Measure L.