County Supervisor Proposes Split From California, New State

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone said he wants to ask about a dozen counties to split from California and form a new state with a balanced budget, secure borders, effective schools and a vibrant economy.

Stone’s plan came the same day Gov. Jerry Brown signed the new state budget, shoring up the state’s deficit through massive cuts in education and social services.

?California was once the world?s fourth largest economy and now struggles to hold on to eighth place,? Stone said. ?Our taxes are too high, our schools don?t educate our children well enough, unions and other special interests have more clout in the Legislature than the general public. It has to change.?

Stone will explore his proposal more in-depth at the July 12 Board of Supervisor’s meeting.

In his announcement on Thursday, he suggested the counties of Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Kings, Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa and Mono be asked to consider forming the State of South California. Boards of supervisors and city councils within those counties would be invited to meet and discuss the feasibility of secession from California, Stone said.

In explaining his proposal, Stone offered the following arguments:

California?s taxes are among the highest in the nation, yet our deteriorating services slip year after year while state officials prop up disastrous budget policies by draining resources needed to help local residents.

Regulations to control greenhouse gasses, and other unnecessary rules, have chased businesses out of California and devastated the economy.

Political infighting has paralyzed California for more than decade, creating a state that is too large to govern.

A huge portion of the state?s residents are on some form of public assistance and California has about 30 percent of the nation?s welfare load, yet only 12 percent of the population.

With limited resources available, California provides benefits that include in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, minimizing the financial resources available for legal residents who pay taxes.

Once the darling of public education, California ranks 48th among states in test scores by one measure yet spends an exorbitant portion of the state budget on education.

Stone suggested the new state consider a part-time legislature and shifting more government control to the cities.

Part-time legislators might receive only a $600 per month stipend and no other financial benefits except travel expenses to the new state Capitol, he said.

Soon after his announcement, supervisors from the targeted counties began responding.

“The idea of secession comes up every so often because of the frustrations with Sacramento and the State attempting to balance its budget on the backs of local governments,” said San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn. “We are essentially punished for good management.

“I understand Supervisor Stone’s reasoning, but we should also recognize that splitting the state into halves is unlikely and instead work together to improve the whole,” he said.

The governor’s press secretary, Gil Duran, dismissed the supervisor’s proposal as “a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars.”

“Most people are normal and will view this as a very strange publicity stunt that will, mercifully, not go any further,” Duran said. “It’s clearly a joke.”

The aide responded to Stone’s criticism of the state’s politics and spending as so much “whining.”

“If Mr. Stone wants to prove his point, then he can cut his own supervisorial salary in half. He’s got too much time on his hands,” Duran said.

Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, acknowledged that secession would pose “a lot of complexities,” but didn’t rule out the possibility.

“This kind of thing has been talked about many times before,” the lawmaker told City News Service. “It’s still an idea worth discussing. We’ve got a state now that is literally unmanageable. The bigger you are, the harder it is to be efficient. The larger you are, the more bureaucracy eats up your tax dollars. It’s better to have a more localized government.”

?Are there huge challenges? Absolutely,? Stone said. ?But the destruction of California has to stop and we won?t know what we can accomplish unless we sit down and consider the possibilities.?

Stone said he will suggest that the Riverside County Executive Office coordinate a meeting at the Riverside Convention Center as soon as possible. He proposes that the county counsel?s office in each county offer suggestions about forming the 51st state. Residents and officials from each county and city would be welcome to offer ideas and testimony, he said.