An advisory ballot has been approved in San Bernardino County clearing the way for officials to study secession from California. The measure was put on the ballot in July after developer Jeff Burum made a pitch that the county look into becoming its own state. San Bernardino County is home to 2.2 million people and is the largest county in the state totaling 20,000 square miles.
Local officials are frustrated the county gets overlooked by state government. Officials also say the county doesn’t get its fair share of public dollars. They say very little comes to San Bernardino County.
The next step is to form a committee of public and private sector members. A new state has not been created since Hawaii gained statehood in 1959.
