Protect Our Local Economy
Join the City of Victorville as we try to stop the current proposal to eliminate local redevelopment agencies in the state of California. If approved, the state's 2011-2012 budget proposal would eliminate almost 400 local redevelopment agencies that provide invaluable services to our community through various affordable housing projects, economic development projects and infrastructure upgrades. Some examples of the state-wide success of redevelopment agencies include the development of downtown San Jose, the gas-lamp district in San Diego and Old Town Pasadena.
Why is redevelopment important to our community?
Redevelopment is an essential tool local governments use to improve the quality of portions of their communities that are blighted, unsafe or rundown. These areas are often overlooked by private businesses not willing to risk investing because the costs outweigh the benefits for an individual company. With the assistance of Victorville Redevelopment Agency, companies can expand or relocate to our area, providing high quality jobs for local residents.
What is redevelopment?
Redevelopment is the process authorized under California law that enables local government entities to revitalize deteriorated and blighted areas in their communities. Under the law, local jurisdictions are able to form a redevelopment agency with the specific goal to develop a plan and provide funding for revitalization of identified areas. In doing so, redevelopment encourages and attracts private sector investment that otherwise wouldn’t occur. Redevelopment agencies are overseen by the local city, county or an appointed board officials, all accountable to the public.
How are redevelopment agencies funded?
Redevelopment agencies are funded through tax increment financing, which was approved by California voters in 1951 to address blight in urban areas. Tax increment revenues are property taxes that remain within the community in which they are generated and are not new or additional taxes on residents. Any increase in property tax revenue resulting from the reassessment of property is allocated to redevelopment agencies as a percentage of property tax.
Does it take away taxes from schools, fire or police?
No. In fact, the Victorville Redevelopment Agency has provided pass through payments directly to Victorville schools that total over $21 million dollars since the Agency’s inception.
Does living in a redevelopment project area raise my taxes?
No. Redevelopment project areas do not raise taxes on residents. Redevelopment funds are simply a portion of existing property taxes that are required to be set aside for redevelopment projects that benefit the specific redevelopment area. This ensures that local tax dollars will be spent on local projects in Victorville.
Why are Redevelopment Agencies in danger of elimination?
The current California Administration has proposed to eliminate almost 400 local redevelopment agencies in the 2011-2012 budget. Property taxes will not decrease with the elimination of redevelopment agencies as a portion of that tax revenue is proposed to go directly into the state general fund to off-set the current deficit.
What has the Victorville Redevelopment Agency done in our community?
In 1981, the City of Victorville created the Victorville Redevelopment Agency (RDA) as a means to stimulate development in the Victorville area.
The Victorville Redevelopment Agency has attracted many industrial companies to the city to spur permanent job growth. As of 2011, the Victorville Redevelopment Agency has assisted in bringing over 4,000 jobs to our city. The Agency has also brought various office, retail and industrial projects to Victorville to increase property value and quality of life city-wide. Additionally, the Agency has provided multiple housing options for Victorville families.
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Victorville Redevelopment Agency’s Major Projects:
SCLA – assisted in the creation of over 2,000 jobs with its efforts to redevelop and re-use the former George Air Force Base
Costco Expansion–assisted in finding a site for expansion, keeping the retail giant’s only location in the Victor Valley from moving
Desert Plazas – providing multiple retail options including WinCo Foods, Home Depot, America’s Tire, In-N-Out Burger, Panda Express, Farmer Boys, Starbucks, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, Papa Johns Pizza, Chopstix and Sushiaru
Dr Pepper Snapple – one of the largest industrial development projects in CA in 2009, bringing over 200 new jobs to the community
Old Town – purchased and demolished old and unsafe buildings to remove hazardous eyesores from our community
Autopark at Valley Center – assisted in the creation of the first auto park in the Victor Valley, with 7 dealers that have generated 330 local jobs
Workforce Housing – provided over 1,500 affordable housing options for working families
First Time Homebuyer Assistance – provided assistance for almost 350 first-time homebuyers in our community
Local job creation for our residents is our number one priority and is necessary to balance industry with our abundant housing stock. The Victorville Redevelopment Agency has adopted four redevelopment project areas:
Bear Valley Project Area
Hook Project Area
Old Town/Midtown Project Area
Victor Valley Project Area
The Victorville Redevelopment Agency has:
- Spurred industrial development to create local jobs
- Improved public infrastructure
- Spurred commerical development
- Provided workforce housing for the community
Victorville has received recognition and awards for its redevelopment work from renowned organizations such as CoreNet Global, the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) and the California Redevelopment Association (CRA).
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2006 CoreNet Economic Development Leadership Awards |
2006 CALED Economic Development Partnership |
2011 California Redevelopment Association |
Additional Information
On Tuesday, March 15th, 2011, the City of Victorville Council, RDA Board and SCLAA Board adopted a resolution to oppose Governor Jerry Brown's Proposal to Abolish Redevelopment Agencies in California. Click here to see the full presentation.
Adopted Resolution - Victorville RDA opposes proposal to abolish Redevelopment (PDF - 109kb)
Adopted Resolution - Council opposes proposal to abolish Redevelopment (PDF - 104kb)
Adopted Resolution - SCLAA opposes proposal to abolish Redevelopment (PDF - 108kb)
Letters from local businesses in opposition to the proposal to eliminate CA Redevelopment Agencies.
Letter from Autopark at Valley Center (PDF – 22kb)
Letter from AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. (PDF – 737kb)
Letter from Greiner Buick GMC (PDF – 20kb)
Letter from JD Pierce Investment Company, Inc. (PDF – 184kb)
Letter from National Community Renaissance (PDF – 1,067kb)
Letter from Pacific Companies (PDF – 236kb)
Letter from Valley Hi Honda (PDF – 24kb)
Letter from Valley Hi Kia (PDF – 25kb)
Letter from Valley Hi Nissan (PDF - 29kb)
Letter from Valley Hi Toyota (PDF – 23kb)
Letter from Victorville Chamber of Commerce (PDF – 21kb)
Letter from Victorville Motors (PDF – 25kb)
Q&A on Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal.
Q&A for Proposal to Abolish Redevelopment Agencies (PDF - 100kb)
Redevelopment agencies' positive impact with ways to protect redevelopment agencies.
CRA Packet (PDF - 2.8MB)
Facts on the 2011-2012 California budget proposal that will eliminate almost 400 redevelopment agencies in California.
FAQ for Proposal to Abolish Redevelopment Agencies (PDF - 236kb)
California voters broadly support redevelopment agencies. In a recent statewide survey of likely California voters, 59% say redevelopment agencies are a good idea. View the survey from Probolsky Research by clicking here.
What Can You Do?
The best way you can make a difference and keep funds in our community is to support local redevelopment agencies by contacting your representatives. Let them know that local tax dollars should stay in our community to promote job growth, provide much needed infrastructure improvements and promote opportunities for workforce housing.
- For contact information on your local representatives and a template letter you can use, click here.
- You can also write or email other California representatives. Find their contact information here.
- Join the coalition to stop the state's budget proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies. Complete the form online here.
- Sign the petition at www.myvotecountsca.org to tell State representatives that the approval of prop.22 in November 2010 protecting local funds should not be circumvented with the elimination of redevelopment agencies.
