Article 5. Establishment Of Consolidated Counties of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 3. >> Chapter 3.5. >> Article 5.

If upon a canvass of the total votes cast in all the affected counties at the election, it appears that within each affected county, more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast in such affected county are in favor of formation of the proposed consolidated county, the board of supervisors of the principal county, by resolution, shall:
  (a) Declare the results of the election and that the consolidated county shall be deemed established pursuant to the general laws of this state as a county upon the 91st day after the election on establishment of the proposed consolidated county was held.
  (b) Declare the results of the election on the county seat. If more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast within each affected county are in favor of the county seat, such location shall be the county seat until removed in the manner provided by law. Where the proposed county seat is not affirmed by the voters, the board of supervisors of the consolidated county shall designate a temporary county seat until removed in the manner provided by law.
  (c) Name the persons receiving the highest number of votes cast for the several offices to be filled at the election and declare those persons duly elected to the respective offices and that they shall enter upon the duties of their offices upon the date which the consolidated county shall be deemed legally established as provided in subdivision (a), and prescribe the amount of the bonds such elected officers shall provide upon taking office.
  (d) State the effective date or dates upon which the various service responsibilities and functions for the consolidated county shall be transferred from each affected county to the consolidated county. Such date or dates shall be established in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the commission and in such a manner as to provide for the orderly and expeditious transition of responsibilities and functions but shall in no event exceed two fiscal years from the date on which the consolidated county shall be deemed legally established as provided in subdivision (a).

The clerk of the principal county shall immediately make out and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election, authenticated by his signature and the seal of the board of the principal county.

All the officers elected at the election shall hold their offices until the time provided by general law for the election and qualification of such officers, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

The board of supervisors of the principal county shall cause a copy of the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 23566 to be filed with the State Board of Equalization, the Secretary of State, and the board of supervisors of each affected county.

When the consolidated county is deemed legally established, the affected counties are dissolved and if any of the affected counties has a charter, it is deemed surrendered and annulled. The title to any property owned or held by, or in trust for, any of the affected counties, or by any of their officers or boards in trust for public use, is vested in the consolidated county, or its officers or boards.

Any county created by the consolidation of counties pursuant to this chapter is the successor of the affected counties.

The maximum tax rate for the consolidated county shall be determined in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2201) of Part 4 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

The affected counties shall continue to provide necessary service from the date of establishing the consolidated county until service responsibilities and functions are transferred to the consolidated county according to the provisions of the resolution of the board of supervisors of the principal county adopted pursuant to Section 23567.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law no special district which is organized within any affected county and governed by the board of supervisors thereof, shall have its territory divided or in any other way have its organization changed as a result of the county consolidation except as to proceedings taken pursuant to law subsequent to the consolidation becoming effective.

After the establishment of the consolidated county its officers shall proceed to complete all proceedings necessary for the assessment or collection of the state and county taxes for the current year, and all acts and steps theretofore taken by the officers of the affected counties prior to the consolidation shall be deemed performed by the officers of the consolidated county for the benefit of the consolidated county.

The officers of each affected county shall immediately execute and deliver to the board of supervisors of the consolidated county copies of all assessments or other proceedings relative to the assessment and collection of the current state and county taxes on property in the consolidated county. The copies shall be filed with the respective officers of the consolidated county who would have their custody if the proceedings had been originally had in the consolidated county and shall be deemed originals. All proceedings recited in such copies shall be deemed original proceedings in the consolidated county, and have the same effect as if the proceedings had been had at the proper time and in the proper manner by the respective officials of the consolidated county. The officials of the consolidated county shall proceed with the assessment and collection of the taxes as if the proceedings originally had in the affected counties had been originally had in the consolidated county.

The superior court of the principal county shall become the superior court of the consolidated county.

On or after the date the consolidated county is established, the superior court in the affected counties shall retain jurisdiction in all cases pending in a session of such court immediately prior to consolidation.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, consolidation does not affect any debts, demands, liabilities, or obligations of any kind existing in favor of or against the counties consolidated, at the time of consolidation. Consolidation does not affect any pending action or proceeding involving any such debt, demand, liability or obligation, or any action or proceeding brought by or against any county prior to consolidation. All such proceedings shall be continued and concluded, by final judgment or otherwise, as if consolidation had not been effected. All such rights or liabilities become the rights or liabilities of the consolidated county.