Our mountain communities face unique challenges, and recent federal policy decisions are adding new pressures to the people and services we depend on every day. Funding reductions, proposed public land sales, and changes to healthcare reimbursement are creating uncertainty for rural communities like ours.

These decisions have real local consequences. Mountains Community Hospital is working to modernize its facilities while facing reduced federal healthcare funding. Community traditions like Jamboree Days and its fireworks celebration rely on financial support that has become increasingly difficult to secure. Proposals to sell public lands could permanently change the forests and open spaces that define our mountain lifestyle. At the same time, local governments continue to struggle with limited resources to maintain the services our residents need.

This page explores how these issues affect the San Bernardino Mountains and what residents can do to stay informed, speak up, and help protect the community we call home.

Betrayed by:

"The Ugly Bill"

The Mountains Community Hospital Board of Directors is considering placing a local bond measure on the November 2026 ballot to help repair, upgrade, and expand hospital facilities to meet current standards and community needs. By law, any potential measure would be subject to strict fiscal accountability. To share your priorities and feedback, please complete our community survey by visiting Click HERE

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A quick update on the bond measure: The Mountains Community Hospital District Board has voted to place the bond measure we discussed on the November 3 ballot. As a reminder, the measure would help repay the $48.5 million USDA loan supporting our $72 million hospital expansion and modernization project. As we discussed, we had a plan in place to finance the project. However, changes to Medi-Cal funding under the OBBBA are expected to reduce our annual revenue by approximately $4 million—more than our current bottom line—and put us into a negative cash flow position. This makes the bond measure an important part of our plan to ensure we can continue moving forward with the project. The project includes mandatory seismic upgrades, a new emergency department, a new acute care wing, and an expansion of our skilled nursing services. This is critical work to ensure that our hospital remains here for our community when we need it most—during disasters and for generations to come.

Trump's Drilling Attack on California Public Lands

The Trump administration has acted to eliminate protections from more than 86 million acres of U.S. public lands, prioritizing industrial extraction, mining, and fossil fuel development over conservation. These sweeping changes target national monuments, endangered species habitats, and multiple-use public land regulations across the American West and Alaska.

National Monuments and Land Reductions
President Trump signed proclamations shrinking Bears Ears to just 8.9% of its prior size and Grand Staircase-Escalante to 9.7% of its prior size, totaling nearly 3 million acres of culturally and ecologically vital red-rock landscape. The reduction opens iconic terrain containing ancient cliff dwellings and potential mining sites to industrial development.
Broader California Public Lands Actions
Oil and Gas Leasing: Federal initiatives have pushed to reopen massive acreage of public lands and mineral estates across California to oil drilling and fracking, overriding state-level buffer laws and environmental safeguards. National Policy Shifts: Efforts to scale back protections on federal monuments and alter forest service management continue to draw pushback from regional conservation coalition.

For more information: Click HERE

The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)

The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)—often called a bed tax or hotel tax—is charged on short-term lodging stays of 30 days or less. It is explicitly designed to offset the heavy infrastructure and service demands caused by visitors in high-tourism and mountain regions. When funding from TOT is cut or diverted, destination communities face acute strains.

Purpose and Function of TOT in Mountain Towns
*Infrastructure Relief: Funds local road repair, snow removal, and traffic management.
*Public Safety: Supports increased 911 dispatch, paramedic availability, and firefighting/wildfire prevention.
*Community Upkeep: Pays for trash removal, trail rebuilding, and park maintenance.
*Local Balance: Offsets the hidden costs that short-term visitors place on small local workforces and municipal systems.

Impact of Funding Cuts
*Deteriorating Infrastructure: Roads and public facilities wear down faster under heavy tourist traffic without enough repair money.
*Budget Shortfalls: Local governments struggle to maintain basic public safety and emergency response levels.
*Strained Housing: Programs aimed at workforce and affordable housing lose critical dedicated revenue streams.