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.

In a move that has left taxpayers clutching their wallets and laughing through the tears, Nevada County Executive Alison Lehman and her trusty Board of Supervisors have greenlit a $75,000 contract with Bryce Consulting, Inc., to “survey” their compensation. Because apparently, the only thing more critical than affordable housing or higher wages for lower-level county staff is figuring out if Lehman’s nearly half million-dollar annual compensation package comes with enough gold stars.

There is no “internal audit position” within Nevada County despite its critical importance to a well-functioning decentralized governance system. The Board of Supervisors rejected the re-creation of an internal audit position during post-COVID budget cuts. Recent Grand Jury reports highlighted significant fraud risks, leaving taxpayer money vulnerable.

A 42% payroll expense in one year with big percentage raises each year is unsustainable, especially in light of the downturn in state funding. Given the outrageously high salaries of senior executive staff and elected officials, the tax-paying public is questioning the rationale of the Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman.

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an ordinance (4-1) allowing tiny homes on wheels to be used as permanent residences.

“Gina Will should return the public’s money of $50,000 and resign.'“

The swearing-in ceremony for the Nevada County Board of Supervisors was held on January 6, 2025, formally initiating the start of their new term.

I was astonished to learn that our CEO, Alison Lehman, and County Counsel, Kit Elliot, took it upon themselves to transfer $50,000 of public resources to Gina Will’s Campaign Committee, thus circumventing public Board of Supervisor approval and public comment. Since I believe the transfer of funds was potentially illegal, I penned the following letter to our District Attorney’s office.

Local leftists say the quiet part out loud progressively requesting that our local Nevada County supervisors should create a position in the county for when speakers with whom the local organized mob disagree, the community can vote to determine whether such speaker will be permitted to speak. Calling for the creation of not-so-free speech panels in order to regulate who comes to town to speak.

According to public records received from Nevada County and publicly available mandatory campaign FPPC disclosures, Alison Lehman, county chief executive officer, and Kit Elliott, county counsel, authorized the payment of $50,000 from the county general fund to Gina Will’s campaign committee without approval of the board of supervisors.

We have sham elections occurring in Nevada County. Despite losing her election for auditor of Nevada County to Rob Tribble and after he was found by the Nevada County Superior Court to lack the statutory qualifications to serve as the auditor, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors appointed his challenger, Gina Will, despite the fact that she only garnered 45% of the County vote and was not chosen by the people of the County and without even considering an open appointment process.

Still no independent forensic audit of OES grant contracts and Fire Safe books

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors should be most interested in how the CliftonLarsonAllen contract was procured by County senior staff. The contract entered into without Board approval exceeded the $50,000 threshold which triggers Board action, yet County staff still contracted with CLA without Board approval.

Because the mob was completely ill-informed, they likely did not know the extent to which Conger went to obtain proper approval of the event permit in accordance with the County’s ordinance.

The Brown Act, which governs public meetings of local agencies, states in part: “The legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism of the policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency, or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body.”

Despite a strong recommendation from the Nevada County Superior Court filed on November 18, 2022, against appointment, the Board proceeded with its decision to appoint her for a full term. Recent appointments by the Board of Supervisors for elected positions, such as the recent appointment of Gina Will to the position of Auditor-Controller, have cast doubt on the Board’s adherence to fair and impartial practices – and for good reason.

Over the past eight years, their total financial compensation packages have nearly doubled, which is incredibly alarming considering our county's budgetary challenges.

As fiduciaries of the Public Trust, the supervisors must always display honesty, integrity, and good faith toward their constituents, the People. My feeling is that Hardy Bullock, Sue Hoek, Heidi Hall, and Ed Scofield have failed their constituents in this area. Hall and Bullock touted that they did fact-check the salary comparisons, but this is possible when you line up the comparative counties.

The general feeling of the public that our supervisors and the County lack respect for our residents, local businesses, and for taxpayer dollars is a natural consequence of the County’s ideology which is based upon the idea that the supervisors and the County are the “experts” and that the public is ignorant and is incapable of caring for itself.

I remind all readers that in private companies the CEO must achieve greater revenue than expenses, a process that requires skill on both sides of the equation. Looking at the adopted budgets for the last six years, expenses have exceeded revenue.