Humboldt supervisors approve modified Measure Z three‑year plan after contentious debate over SROs and fire funding

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on July 7 approved a modified three‑year spending plan for Measure Z that guarantees larger, steady allocations to public safety departments and funds a three‑year allocation for a Fortuna school resource officer (SRO), but reduces the annual competitive applications pool. The motion passed by roll call, 3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain.

The county’s deputy administrative officer, Sean Quincy, told the board the County is working against a flat revenue outlook — a conservative $13 million a year — while county departments’ projected staffing and benefit needs are rising to more than $11.1 million in year one and nearly $11.9 million by year three. The Citizens Advisory Committee proposed a set of options; the committee’s top recommendation would have prioritized county department shortfalls while repurposing $400,000 freed by another ballot measure to increase guaranteed fire funding and provide a $200,000 allocation for Fortuna’s SRO.

The most contested issue in hours of public comment and board discussion was the SRO and whether a three‑year guaranteed allocation is the right approach. Youth organizer Kelsey Reedy urged supervisors not to approve multi‑year funding for SROs, saying “school resource officers … increased the delinquency and juvenile justice referral rates” and noting disproportionate impacts on Native youth in Humboldt. Reedy pressed the board to prioritize community‑based alternatives and cautioned against locking funds into sworn, armed positions.

Fortuna Police Chief Matt Eberhardt and other law‑enforcement witnesses disputed that framing in their testimony. “The school resource officer works with 15 schools,” Eberhardt said, describing the role as “a mentor, educator, problem solver, emergency planner, and a trusted adult” who also helps address threats, social‑media conflicts, vaping and drug issues and supports school staff in de‑escalation.

Measure Z committee members, including vice chair Dylan Thierben, defended the committee’s recommended approach as reflecting historical funding patterns and administrative efficiency; the committee voted to forward its recommendation after noting the SRO had been funded in eight of nine prior cycles.

Faced with split preferences on the board, supervisors negotiated an amendment: the board approved a package that preserves increased fixed allocations for fire, keeps a $200,000 allocation for the Fortuna SRO, and redirects $200,000 from the annual competitive applications pool to fund a counselor position for the Mad River/Arcata area (the net effect reducing the competitive pool from roughly $500,000 to about $300,000 annually). The motion carried 3‑1‑1.

Board members stressed the decision is not irrevocable: staff will return with contract language and implementation details later in the year, after the board reviews additional revenue and election outcomes. Several supervisors asked staff to monitor the county’s Measure Z reserves — roughly $800,000 — and to flag risks if sales‑tax receipts fall short of projections.

The vote capped one of the meeting’s longest agenda items: supervisors, committee members and dozens of public speakers spent much of the morning and early afternoon airing competing priorities for a limited local fund that supports fire, ambulance and other public safety and community services.

What happens next: staff will draft contract language and return with implementation and timing details; some supervisors asked staff to revisit the plan if a relevant city ballot measure (Fortuna) passes and supplies local funding to share program costs. The County’s Measure Z program remains subject to the board’s future oversight and annual reviews.