Now that cities have forked over millions to the state from defunct redevelopment agencies, the public at large is getting its first glimpse of how much the state grab cost their communities.
In the Inland Empire, payments ranged from just over a quarter million dollars to more than $3 million. Other cities were able to sneak by without paying any more to the state, as much of the money due came from payments that continued to the Redevelopment Agencies after the Governor signed legislation that dissolved the agencies.
So the reaction to the payments – which were demanded within 72 hours of receiving the bill – varied depending upon the financial stability of the redevelopment agencies themselves. Redlands had to borrow money from its utility fund to pay the state, and then borrow more to make a bond payment. Claremont, on the other hand, had virtually set aside the contested money when it was received. They paid their bill when it came in without protest.
From the San Bernardino Sun:
Some Inland Empire cities’ successor agencies to their redevelopment agencies recently had to pay fees – some higher than $4 million – to the California Department of Finance, which upset city officials and a local economist.
“It’s devastating,” said Inland Empire economist John Husing. “What the state has done is to shut down economic development at the local level in the Inland Empire…. It’s the most poorly thought-out money grab by the state I have witnessed in 48 years of following this stuff.”
In San Bernardino County, San Bernardino had to pay more than $4.1 million, Rialto more than $3 million and Redlands more than $2 million for their redevelopment agencies.
Read the full article here.