The city of San Diego is taking opposition to Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies to unprecedented heights, the Union-Tribune is reporting.
The city is planning to commit “as much as $3 billion” in redevelopment funding by the end of the month, likely tripling the amount any other city has attempted to sequester in the wake of Brown’s proposal.
Since Brown revealed his plan, cities all over the state have tried to protect property tax dollars that would flow to other agencies — including their own day-to-day operating budgets — if redevelopment were eliminated. Los Angeles’ redevelopment agency struck first, and is attempting to put nearly $1 billion out of the governor’s reach.
The giant scale of San Diego’s grab was unexpected. On Monday, city chief operating officer Jay Goldstone told me the city’s was targeting “hundreds of millions” in redevelopment projects, but gave no indication the amount would be this large.
I’m Liam Dillon, voiceofsandiego.org’s City Hall reporter. Call me at 619-550-5663, email me at liam.dillon@voiceofsandiego.org or follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/dillonliam.