Even with the broad action, the city could still be left with a debt of $50 million as part of a loan the city made to the Redevelopment Agency. If Brown’s budget plan is approved, there would be no agency left to pay back the loan.
“I’m worried about it being stolen from us really quickly,” said Mayor Anja Reinke of the 3-2 vote to make the transfers.
The California Redevelopment Assn. issued an alternate proposal to help solve the state’s multi-billion dollar budget gap that would allow local agencies to extend their life expectancies through contributions to education.
Brown wants to take the property tax revenue the local redevelopment agencies generate to pay state debts and increase funding for schools and counties.
“The governor’s proposal only saves money one year and doesn’t save any money after that,” said John Shirey, executive director of the California Redevelopment Assn. “Our proposal can potentially save more money.”
Under the association’s proposal, local agencies can voluntarily suspend their housing set-aside funds for a project area for the next year in exchange for extending its life by two years. But the funds must go to local schools.
Agencies could also voluntarily contribute up to 10% of their non-housing revenue stream each year to local school districts for 10 years. Each percent would equal an additional year to the redevelopment zone’s life.
The proposal could generate anywhere between $700 million and $1 billion during the first year and $2.7 billion over its lifetime — more than the $1.7 billion the governor is asking for, Shirey said.
