On September 15 the Trinity Board of Supervisors gave a sharp backhand blow to the ruinous “State of Jefferson” secession idea. Instead of supporting the proposal as proponents had requested, putting it on the ballot, or declining to take action, they voted to adopt a declaration, “declining to join the State of Jefferson and advocating improved representation of rural California counties.” The full text of the declaration, which is based on a comprehensive fiscal evaluation prepared by county staff and includes an incisive set of Whereases, is available at keepitcalifornia.org/opinion.html.
Congratulations to the Trinity BOS for this display of prudence and courage. Their action may have been the reason El Dorado County SOJ proponents withdrew a support motion agendized for September 29. With El Dorado leaders unenthusiastic about becoming a cash cow to a bankrupt new state, the motion never did have much chance of success, but the possibility of its turning into a positive rejection along the Trinity model was apparently too much for the Jeffersonians to risk.
Then on October 20 the Plumas County supervisors resisted demands to endorse the secession movement and instead voted to put the issue on the June 2016 ballot. Although it would have been preferable to require proponents to gather signatures for an initiative before imposing a financial obligation on the taxpayers, this action nonetheless required considerable courage on the part of the board. Plumas voters will now join those in Lake and Lassen in having an opportunity to reject this very bad idea at the polls: in the meantime, any attempt to portray these counties as separatist supporters is purely fictional.