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Police and Fire Chiefs detail Measure E spending and staffing needs ahead of election
Summary
Kingsburg police and fire chiefs presented how the 1% Measure E public-safety sales tax has been spent and what is planned for FY 2026–27, describing equipment purchases, training, and eight full-time-equivalent positions that would be at risk if the measure lapses.
Police Chief Stevens presented the Measure E public-safety spending report and the proposed plan for fiscal year 2026–27, saying the measure funded equipment and training and underpins staffing for core public-safety services. “Part of the 25–26 spending plan…the capital outlay that we had was we spent approximately $75,000 on our body worn and in car cameras,” Chief Stevens said, adding that the subscription is a multiyear expense and that the department also purchased ballistic vests, helmets and other officer safety equipment.
The chief described training investments — from emergency driving and arrest-control courses to leadership and specialized investigative conferences — and said Measure E funds support eight full-time-equivalent positions plus a fraction of the chief’s salary. “So that's 4 police officers on the street, 1 police sergeant, 2 lieutenants, and a police service technician,” Chief Stevens said. He told the council those positions would be lost without Measure E funding.
Council members pressed for clarification about staffing and public outreach. A council member asked whether the eight Measure E-funded positions are sworn; Stevens confirmed the mix of sworn and civilian roles and said a quarter of his salary is paid from the measure. Council members also raised how the city communicates factual Measure E information online; Stevens and staff said social-media posting has slowed because the account administrator is on medical leave and because some department accounts were tied to a retired chief’s email and phone, and that the city maintains a Measure E webpage with presentations and oversight information.
Fire Chief Rodney Roberts reviewed the fire department’s Measure E expenditures, listing personnel supported (three captain positions, one apparatus engineer, a part-time administrative assistant and portions of accounting staff), maintenance and operations line items (PPE, communications, fuel, professional services and training) and capital planning. Roberts described a prior roll-over of about $100,000 used to outfit a new fire engine and said the city has begun saving for a future engine that could cost roughly $1.21–1.3 million. He also noted investments in medical equipment and radio standardization to improve interoperability with regional partners.
Why it matters: Council members were provided a line-by-line, informational update ahead of upcoming budget adoption and an election in which Measure E is in play; several council members emphasized that losing the measure would reduce staffing levels and the department’s capacity for training and equipment replacement.
The presentation was informational; no action was taken. The council moved on to the next agenda items after the chiefs’ remarks.
