State Budget Could Cost Roseville About $1.8 Million

The California state budget could cost the approximately $1.8 million in redevelopment funds.

Two trailer bills, ABX1 26 and 27, passed with the state budget give cities options to provide a hefty payment to the state or opt out, which dissolves the city’s redevelopment agency.

During the July 6 city council meeting, members received a briefing on the impact the payment could make on Roseville’s redevelopment. Several city projects are at risk including Town Square and adding additional parking in Historic Roseville.

Councilman John Allard said that redevelopment has been critical to the revitalization of Downtown.

“This will be devastating to our efforts to revitalize Downtown Roseville,” Allard said. “This is all about taking money from the local government to help close the state budget gap.”

Kevin Payne, Assistant Planning and Redevelopment Director with the City of Roseville, said the city has to pay or determine if they want to opt out by Oct. 1.

“This is another hurdle in the community’s quest to revitalize Downtown,” Payne said.

Allard asked how Senator Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) and Assemblywoman Beth Gaines voted in regards tot he redevelopment funds. According to Mark Wolinski, Administrative Analyst II with the city, both the senator and congresswoman voted in favor of the elimination of redevelopment funds.

“The vote by the senator was somewhat surprising,” Wolinski said, considering his previous support of redevelopment.

“The vote by our two legislatures basically will eliminate the opportunities in the future for us,” Allard said.

Councilwoman Carol Garcia agreed.

“It’s just a shame – it’s devastating to our city because we depended on a lot of those redevelopment dollars to build what our future was going to be … we had great plans,” Garcia said.

Payne said he and his team will come back to the council in August with a recommendation to move forward with the payment or opt out.