Oil prices reached a near six year low Tuesday

Oil companies are among the top seven property tax payers in Kern County. So, when the value of their land falls, tax revenue from them does as well, which in turn drives the county's revenue down. Kern County Administrative Analyst, Allan Krauter, said it is well estimated that the general fund will be down about $44 million, and the Kern County fire fund will lose about $17 million over last year. So, the grand total of $61 million, Krauter said, needs to be made up somewhere. Krauter said