Cannabis Tax Break Extended to 2030 as Outgoing Chair Takes Parting Shots at Budget

The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors locked in a 60% cannabis cultivation tax reduction through 2030, adopted a county budget over the outgoing chair's sharp objections to fire district funding, and unanimously extended a moratorium on data center development — all in a meeting that showcased the tensions between fiscal caution and economic survival in a rural foothill county. Supervisor Benjamin Stopper, who is not returning to the board, used several agenda items to publicly criticize colleagues and fire district advocates, warning that the county's own workforce is being shortchanged.

• Cannabis cultivation tax cut extended through 2030 on a 4-1 vote; local growers say they can't compete without it
• County budget adopted 3-1-1 after outgoing Supervisor Stopper blasted fire district funding as irresponsible
• Data center moratorium extended unanimously, buying the county nearly another year to write permanent rules
• $400,000 in hotel tax funding approved for tourism groups over fraud allegations from a local watchdog publisher
• $3 million federal mental health grant application authorized to address justice-system behavioral health gaps
• County consolidates airport and waste management under Public Works, raising the director's pay

Supervisor Benjamin Stopper, who pulled the FY 2026-27 county budget from the consent agenda specifically to register his opposition, delivered what amounted to a parting critique of the board's spending priorities.