Yuba County supes debate jobs, homes

For the Yuba County Board of Supervisors, it's a question of which is the cart and which is the horse: building homes or cultivating jobs.

This discussion took place Thursday during the third of four workshops meant to update a 20-year general plan for Yuba County through 2030.

Thursday's topic focused on the creation of jobs and the retention of industry.

According to Supervisor Hal Stocker, the county has "a tremendous tax leak."

The tax leak is a result of a lack of retail stores in the county for shopping or working.

John Fleming, Yuba County economic development coordinator, said the county is losing $192 million worth of sales tax each year because there is no place for residents to go for groceries or obtain other retail services.

"We need industry and commercial areas to support those communities," Stocker said. Otherwise, incomes and tax revenues "won't be able to pay for services down the road."

One suggestion to attract business came from Supervisor John Nicoletti. He said a larger population base could bring bigger box stores to Yuba County.

And business growth depends on population, which depends on construction of new, well-placed homes.

Nicoletti suggested they consider annexing the Linda and Olivehurst communities with the City of Marysville to create a larger population base. This would attract many of the major retailers, he said, because many only consider building in areas where the population is at least 50,000.

Increase population "and we are immediately popping up on the radar of Wall Street and folks in investment centers," he said.

Supervisor Dan Logue said that locating such businesses on major corridors or in populated areas would be ideal.

"Because, if it doesn't work for industry, they are not going to come," Logue said.

County officials and supervisors agreed to look at Highway 65 and Rancho Road as a possible location for an industrial park.

Supervisor Mary Jane Griego said the county needs to consider combining water, sewer and fire services under one jurisdiction in order to make it more attractive for business and development.

Griego reminded staff and elected officials that Yuba County should be selling the whole package, from jobs to housing to quality of life.

Supervisor Don Schrader noted that people are not only leaving Yuba County for retail reasons, but for housing as well.

Schrader's concern was that professionals do not want to live in Yuba County because there isn't attractive housing.

"We should focus on trying to get professionals into Yuba County," he said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com