Cities Fight Back Against Gov’s Plans To Take Away Redevelopment Funds

If Gov. Jerry Brown gets his way, he’ll take away redevelopment funds from cities to pay down the state’s huge debt. City leaders and residents debated the pros and cons Friday during a special forum discussing redevelopment funds.

“They’re all preaching to the choir, we agree RDA’s are good,” said, Robert High a La Quinta resident.

Cities are fighting back against Gov. Jerry Brown’s efforts to do away with local redevelopment agencies which give cities a portion of property tax revenues when property values goes up. It’s invested into infrastructure and nonprofits.

At the meeting, Palm Desert assistant city manager Justin McCarthy told legislators and residents RDA funds built schools, invested in police and fire stations to a tune of over $100 million. Highway 111 improvements and The River at Rancho Mirage are two local examples of projects paid in part by redevelopment funds.

“This is about local people using local resources to solve local problems,” said Justin McCarthy.

In January, the governor announced he wanted to chop away at the state’s $25 billion state budget deficit by taking $12 billion in redevelopment funds away from cities.

“They have to be abolished,” said Paul Jacobs a Temecula resident who attended the meeting. “It’s irresponsible for our legislators to put on this dog and pony show to bailout developers and the building industry.”

Jacobs said he wants the state to spend tax dollars on education, public safety and families instead of development. “It’s socialism for developers, it’s welfare for developers,” said Jacobs.

No matter what, legislators in Sacramento will have the final say. They’ll likely need a two-thirds vote to pass the budget.