San Benito County staff assured the public that the national motto, “In God We Trust,” will return to the wall behind the dais inside the board chambers building on Fourth Street in Hollister.
In an Aug. 14 statement, County Executive Officer Esperanza Colio Warren said the lettering that comprised the motto was removed to make way for long-planned extensive renovation of the chambers where the board of supervisors meets.
During the removal process, the letters were damaged and could not be reinstalled, Warren said. The county has ordered replacement letters, which will be installed in the board chambers as soon as next week.
The board previously approved the display of “In God We Trust” in September 2019.
“For clarity, neither the Board of Supervisors nor any individual member of the board has directed that the ‘In God We Trust’ motto be permanently removed from the Board Chambers,” Warren said. “I have personally managed the project, and its temporary absence is solely the result of the ongoing renovation and the damage that occurred to the existing lettering during its removal.”
The renovation project includes replacement of fixed seating, new carpet, painting, electrical modifications, audio/video upgrades, HVAC system cleaning, lighting improvements, dais repairs, window blind replacement and more microphones.
The board unanimously approved the renovation as part of the county’s 2026-27 budget. The project cost is $280,000, Warren’s statement said.
