Nevada County has a rare opportunity to elect local leader Robb Tucker to Congress. This call urges elected officials and community leaders across party lines to unite behind him for stronger rural representation on water, wildfire, housing, and cost-of-living issues.

In a recent Nevada County League of Women Voters forum, Heidi Hall and Ami Bera pushed familiar big-government expansions that have long failed California. Only Robb Tucker offered clear-eyed common sense— the lone sober voice at the policy party. Even the dankest ideas lose their buzz eventually.

Nevada County’s unfunded pension liability nearly doubled from $117 million in 2015 to $223.6 million in 2024, with no reduction plan despite warnings. Consequently, the Grand Jury criticize County leadership passivity amid rising compensation and calls for urgent structural reforms.

Is Nevada County’s budget truly structurally balanced? No. Using one-time surplus to fund ongoing costs while adding staff and growing pension debt is not fiscal discipline—it’s postponing the problem.

A proclamation designating June as Nevada County Pride Month sparked debate at Board of Supervisors meeting, exposing divisions over the role of symbolic gestures in local governance. The controversy is unlikely to fade quickly, as supervisors face ongoing pressure to define their priorities.

Nevada County Board of Supervisors must correct past mistakes by burdening taxpayers with excessive compensation packages and delayed fiscal reforms. We have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to rebuild our county government that is leaner, more responsive, and focused squarely on delivering essential services with transparency and fiscally conservative prudence.

The County’s budget totals $388 million, with 45.8%—or $167 million—sourced from federal and state intergovernmental funds. This revenue supports 908 full-time equivalent positions delivering essential services, but recent federal actions threaten this pipeline, prompting urgent advocacy by the Board. Nevada County’s complete reliance on federal funding for these services amplifies the stakes. Discretionary revenues offer little buffer against cuts to the $167 million in federal and state aid while losing tax-exempt municipal bonds could cripple infrastructure funding tied to salaries.