SLO County’s new board majority launch their agenda

January 25, 2023

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors liberal majority launched their agenda on Tuesday. Their priorities include a new redistricting map, water banking, reversing a planting ordinance, joining new agencies and changing spending priorities.

In closed session, the board voted 3-2 to negotiate with SLO County Citizens for Good Government and three SLO County residents regarding a lawsuit challenging the county’s redistricting map, with supervisor John Peschong and Debbie Arnold dissenting. The plaintiffs argued the map benefited the Republican Party at the expense of Democrats and Latinos.

However, a judge determined the redistricting map did not impact Latinos and was unsure if it impacted Democrats.

If the new board majority makes a substantial mid-decade change in the map, that does not follow the Fair Maps Act, critics will likely file a lawsuit.

During a discussion about spending, Supervisor Bruce Gibson suggested removing county road repairs from the priority list.

“Less is more,” Gibson said while pushing a focus on homelessness, behavioral health and housing.

Supervisor Debbie Arnold argued to keep road maintenance on the priority list.

“Our residents drive to work on our roads,” Arnold said. “Safety and roads are really important.”

The board then voted 3-2 to remove roads from the list, with supervisors Peschong and Arnold dissenting.

Supervisor Paulding asked county staff to agendize his plan to adopt Community Choice Energy. If adopted, residents will continue to receive their electric bills through PG&E, with the cost of Community Choice Energy added to their bill.

Paulding also wants to return to the SLO County Integrated Waste Management Authority, which will result in some county resident receiving higher trash bills. Paulding noted that adding the county to the IWMA could lower bills for those already in the IWMA, which bills almost twice what the county charges for the same services.

The board then voted to work to reverse an ordinance that allowed small farmers who stopped growing during an earlier drought to have up to 25 acre feet of water a year.

Another controversial proposal was the liberal majority’s plan to promote water banking in the Paso Robles Basin, a plan that is opposed by a majority of north county residents.

Supervisor Paulding also asked staff to develop new revenue sources, which he suggested could increases in sales tax and transient occupancy tax.

Community watchdog Mike Brown questioned adding additional layers of government during a downturn in the economy.

“This will increase the size of government, increase taxes and fees, and empower the bureaucracy even more,” Brown said.


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I’m out! Another SLO native moving out of state. Best of luck to you all. You need it.


I’ll turn the lights off, right behind you after 25 years here.


63 years. You’ll need to turn off the lights because you won’t be able to afford them. You may not miss me but you will miss my money. You’re going to need it.


Too much government. I would like to see some action towards bringing down the cost of living; specifically in the housing market. There’s something wrong when an average working person can’t even afford a one-bedroom apartment.


Nothing will ever change politically here unless they only allow those paying income tax to vote. Way more people getting handouts then people getting 40% of the money they earned ripped from them.


Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Section 1

The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.


Fines, Fees, and the Right to Vote


The Obama phone crowd has arrived /s


Only people who agree with me should be allowed to vote.


How did the new maps benefit Republicans? As a result of the new maps, the Democrats have a majority on the Board of Supervisors. Why then are the Democrats still pursuing this, to throw out these maps? Do they now want a 5-0 majority? What a waste of taxpayer money.

There are certain things only government can do; road maintenance is one of those. It should always be a priority. But in this case, a 20% raise for themselves is a higher priority. Can’t wait ot see what happens next. Hold onto your wallets!


The map was pushed by the “republican” (more like RINO) sups to try to give them a benefit, but they bungled it and still lost.


What jimmy doesn’t understand about CC Energy is we the people don’t want it and it is a farce, go look it up and you’ll see nothing but problems and it is not cheaper to us, and we don’t want the igma that program has proven to be a waste of money and they still haven’t prosecuted the crooks that were there the first time, Oh thats right those were gibson’s buddys, and as side show Bob stated gibson’s croonies in the homeless segment get millions of our dollars and nothing shows for it, take a look at the creeks with all the homeless trash stuck in the trees, the do gooders that want to leave the homeless alone need top go clean the garbage out of the creeks.


Screw the crummy roads. We MUST keep pouring taxpayer funds to every entity that claims to help the homeless yet nothing EVER changes and few, other than those entities collecting the coin to stuff their pockets, benefit from this. Status quo, same ol’ same ol’. Who needs decent, safe roads? I have a new 4WD car and new 4WD truck to get around…..until I’m told those aren’t legal in CA anymore. Than it’s back to horse and buggy, I guess.


South County you voted Jimmy Paulding in you just voted for seeing less of your dollar with nothing to show for it…How stupid…I just don’t understand this thinking…I never will!!! Promises …Promises that is all you will get symbolism without substance.


Gibson flat out lied. Back during his last campaign, I specifically asked him the question on water banking while he was on the Dave Congalton show. He stated that was not true and he never had or never will support water banking. Bruce Gibson you are a two-face unethical fool of the highest. Can you say “Recall”.


Common guy, any chance you could pinpoint the specific show (date/time) that Gibson was on Congalton? I suspect you are correct because of Gibson’s general lack of ethics and morals but I’d like to hear it ,


It was before the primary election in June. It probably aired sometime in May of 2022. I recall a guy named Greg called in right after me questioning him and wanted to share proof, but as usual, Dave cut the guy off and came to Gibson’s rescue.

It would be interesting to see who donated to Gibson in regard to the water banking. Are they local or from out of the area. Most likely both. I believe the guy named Greg also has this information as well.

Maybe he could do an op-ed here on CCN and deliver the information.


Hang on, the pendulum will swing back.


and hit the taxpayers in the wallet.