2005 California Government Code Sections 23567-23580 Article 5. Establishment of Consolidated Counties

23567.  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).
23568.  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.
23569.  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.
23570.  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.
23571.  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.
23572.  Any county created by the consolidation of counties pursuant
to this chapter is the successor of the affected counties.
23572.5.  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.
23573.  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.
23574.  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.
23575.  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.
23576.  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.
23577.  The superior court of the principal county shall become the
superior court of the consolidated county.
23578.  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.
23580.  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.