Voters to decide on San Bernardino County secession measure

Should the County of San Bernardino become the 51st State in the Union? The question will be put to the voters this November.

The county’s Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Wednesday to put the secession measure on the 2022 ballot. First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (ret.) was absent.

The initial draft measure states: “Do the citizens of San Bernardino County want the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to study all options to obtain its fair share of state and federal resources, up to and including secession?”

The secession idea was brought up by real estate developer Jeff Burum at the board’s July 26 meeting.

Even if San Bernardino County voters approve the measure, secession would still require approvals by the California Legislature and U.S. Congress.

County staff shared during the special meeting that San Bernardino County ranks 36th out of 56 counties for per-capita revenue received from the state and federal governments.

Home to 2.1 million people east of Los Angeles, San Bernardino is the fifth-most populous county in California and the largest in the nation by area. It’s physically larger than Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island combined.

The measure will go before the board again next Tuesday for final adoption.