Governor Brown Releases Draft Budget Early 
Governor Brown unexpectedly released his 2012-2013 Budget Proposal yesterday afternoon. The Governor's $92.6 billion budget estimates a deficit of $9.2 billion which he proposed to address with cuts and the assumed passage in November of his $7 billion tax increase plan. If that measure fails to muster voter approval, it will result in additional cuts of $4.8 billion to public education. The Governor's proposed budget also slashes $1.4 billion from welfare and child-care services and almost $1 billion from Medi-Cal. Below are highlights from this budget proposal that directly affect housing and community development. "The Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) both assist in the development and financing of affordable housing for Californians. While CalHFA is unique in making low-interest loans through the sale of tax-exempt bonds, both departments administer general obligation bond programs. By moving the CalHFA functions into the Department of Housing and Community Development, the state will continue to serve the housing needs of the state while achieving administrative efficiencies." - The Governor did not include any creative mechanisms or proposals to fill-in the gap for the forthcoming elimination of the redevelopment agencies. Throughout the budget proposal are numerous references to redevelopment agencies being eliminated and a resulting increase of $1.1 billion in offsetting local property taxes for 2012-13. Between the loss of approximately $1 billion in redevelopment funding designated for affordable housing, and the depletion of hundreds of millions of dollars of affordablehousing development funding from Proposition 1C, we have lost approximately $1.5 billion for affordable housing construction andpreservation annually in California.
"In accordance with the Court's order, RDAs will be dissolved on February 1, 2012. Revenues that would have been directed to the RDAs will be distributed to make "pass through" payments to local agencies that they would have received under prior law, and to successor agencies for retirement of the RDAs' debts and for limited administrative costs. The remaining revenues will be distributed as property taxes to cities, counties, school and community college districts, and special districts under existing law. The Budget reflects an estimate that approximately $1.05 billion in additional property tax revenue will be received by K-14 schools in 2011-12, which will offset the state's Proposition 98 General Fund obligation. Additional property tax revenues are estimated at $340 million for counties, $220 million for cities, and $170 million for special districts. These amounts are expected to grow as property values increase and debts are retired. Additional revenues will also be distributed in the next several years as RDA assets are monetized." Update on Redevelopment As we reported last week, redevelopment agencies have been slated for elimination and dissolution effective February 1st. But - wait! The California Redevelopment Association and the Non-Profit Housing Association are working with Senate President Pro Tempore Steinberg on Senate Bill 654 which includes language to clarify the process for the unwinding of redevelopment agencies and the transfer of their assets to successor agencies. This legislation is intended to preserve for affordable housing the roughly $2 billion in outstanding balances in the L&M funds maintained by redevelopment agencies throughout the state. The Senate Transportation and Housing Committee will hold a hearing this Tuesday, January 10th to review this draft legislation. Other redevelopment advocates are seeking to pass legislation to delay the February 1st dissolution date by one month. We will continue to provide you with timely updates and analysis on our industry's news. Sincerely, 
Jennifer LeSar President, LeSar Development Consultants |
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