Fair Oaks District Requires Population Increase

The community of Fair Oaks finds itself right in the middle of a supervisorial boundary revision, according to a Sacramento County redistricting announcement.

District 4 in which Fair Oaks is located will have to increase its population by more than 17,000 people, according to the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters.

Under recent proposed maps released by the Registrar of Voters this week, Fair Oaks could remain a part of District 4 under the direction of Representative Roberta MacGlashan.

Though it remains to be seen, it appears the community’s population of more than 30,000 represents a significant portion of the district’s 265,000-plus residents, said Registrar of Voters representative, Alice Jarboe.

However, current proposed plans are not definitive and will likely be revised more than a few times before anything is finalized, Jarboe explained.

“If we adjust one (district), then we need to make an equal adjustment in neighboring districts,” Jarboe said. “When one district takes on population, what does the other district have to give up?”

That is the real question residents and district representatives have to figure out, Jarboe said. With many current surrounding district populations fluctuating both up and down, representatives will have to strike that fine balance between what is right for the county and what is good for each of the existing districts' residents.

Every 10 years after U.S. Census statistics are released, district borders must be redrawn to keep an equal number of people in each. MacGlashan’s district will need an increase of 17,262, Jarboe said.

That call for increased population within the district came mainly from other areas around Fair Oaks, as its population .

Residents are encouraged to provide their input on the proposed redistricting plans. Comments can be posted online at www.elections.saccounty.net. They can also attend community workshops, which will be held until June.

Public workshops to discuss the new district boundaries begin Wednesday at from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan will be there to explain the currently developing redistricting plans and answer questions. Click here to view a PDF file with the full workshop schedule.