Imperial County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Imperial County, California public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Property tax levy certification dispute
Auditor-Controller Karina Alvarez refuses to certify the 2026-27 tax levy rates, saying a consultant made unverified adjustments and she was shut out of the process. The board took no vote and instead told counsel to explore legal options to force her compliance.
Quechan tribal representation and Picacho Road Bridge
The 100-year-old Picacho Road Bridge over the Yuma Main Canal is closed, cutting off vital services and emergency response east of the county. Speakers demanded faster repairs and an apology for Supervisor Hawk's remarks to the Quechan tribe; Public Works says replacement is at least a year out with two federal grant applications pending.
SB 1329 solar property tax valuation
Assessor Robert Menville warned that SB 1402 would slash appeal timelines to six months, drop fees, and shift the burden of proof to the assessor, while SB 1329 would restrict how solar farms are valued — both could burden the county.
Tropical Storm Rachel emergency response
Flash floods triggered swiftwater rescues, stranded travelers, a 100-foot canal breach, and roughly 1,500 flooded acres. The board made the emergency official so state recovery funding can flow.
Data center controversy
Residents are upset the county seems to be coordinating with the developer of a proposed hyperscale AI data center in Imperial before public review, and that a county-hosted town hall looked like a sales pitch. The Board responded by converting the town hall into a special evening informational meeting on March 26 where the public can comment but supervisors can't take positions.
Data center moratorium and regulation
Speaker after speaker urged the Board to reject or pause the proposed AI data center, citing air quality, water, lawsuits, and doubts about the developer's experience and the promised $10 billion investment. One speaker asked for a moratorium on new data centers; no board action was taken.
Data center ballot measure
The board approved the lot merger and road vacation that unlock the proposed largest AI data center in California, next to homes and schools near Imperial. Opponents demand a full CEQA environmental review and warn of noise, dust, water use and health impacts; supporters, largely union construction workers, point to jobs under a newly signed project labor agreement. A ballot initiative to ban data centers and a recall effort against the chairwoman were announced.
FY 2026-27 budget and structural deficit
A resident flagged that S&P dropped the county's bond rating from A- to BBB in 2025, citing governance and transparency problems and late audits — a warning sign that could raise borrowing costs for county projects.
Arnold Road Bridge emergency
The Board extended the emergency declaration for the closed Picacho Road Bridge. A Quechan tribal leader said the closure cuts off his community's fastest route to emergency care in Yuma and invited the Board to visit and build an emergency response plan.
Fire department staffing crisis and overtime costs
Firefighters thanked the board for recent progress but pushed back on a supervisor's comment about closing stations, saying it tells Palo Verde residents their lives matter less. The board and union pledged continued collaboration on a long-term staffing fix.
County leadership turnover and HR Director appointment
The county filled a key vacancy after a year with five department head changes. The new HR Director's Step F starting salary split the board 4-1.