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Residents back Measure B but warn of strain on farmers; board says counsel is exploring relief
Summary
Public comment supported Measure B as needed for county finances, while speakers urged the board to seek targeted relief for farmers and to hold the board accountable for spending; the chair said counsel is reviewing what county actions (rebates/grants) might be legally available.
Public comment at the Plumas County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday included both support for Measure B and warnings about its potential impact on local farmers, prompting the board to say it will seek legal options to reduce hardship for affected producers.
Nut graf: Several speakers told the board Measure B is necessary to restore county fiscal stability after years of one‑time fixes and staffing gaps, but asked the board to examine targeted measures — such as county grants or rebates — to avoid creating added hardship for ranchers and farmers.
Deb Hopkins of Quincy said she supports Measure B but is concerned it could be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back” for local agriculture. She urged the county to "explore every possibility" to help farmers and ranchers, including county grants to offset increased sales tax revenues if the measure passes.
"This county has been in financial distress since the early 2000s," Hopkins told the board, citing grand jury reports from 2012, 2016 and an interim 2026 report that she said document past short‑term fixes and gaps in fiscal oversight.
Chairwoman Hall responded that she has been working with county counsel to determine what legal options exist. "We can't do tax exemptions for certain sectors," she said in a brief reply, "but we may be able to do rebates or other kinds of things for certain sectors of our community."
The meeting also included discussion of voter‑education forums: the chair said she had asked the League of Women Voters to include the county as an official participant in Measure B forums and expressed disappointment that a member of the public was invited as proponent when an official representative would be available to speak for the board's position.
What’s next: The board will continue public outreach and staff said they will circulate information about Measure B and engagement opportunities; no board action changing the ballot measure was taken at the meeting.
