Sacramento– Earlier this week, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D- San Bernardino), introduced AB-2268, a bill that will restore Vehicle Licensing Fee (VLF) revenue to cities that have expanded or incorporated additional areas.
Still reeling from budget deficits after the 2008 recession, a 2011 budget trailer bill passed through the legislature that ultimately reallocated over $200 million dollars annually. Under normal circumstances, this revenue would have gone to these cities that had recently expanded or annexed new territory to pay for the added services they were now providing.
“Cities including San Bernardino and Fontana lost revenue due to annexing unincorporated areas into their city boundaries. It is imperative for this revenue to be restored so that it can be invested locally” said Assemblymember Reyes. “This revenue will help fund local programs and public safety resources that are so important to our community.”
Since elected in 2016, Assemblymember Reyes made a priority of checking in with all stakeholders in her district. This issue was at the forefront of concerns for all of the cities in the 47th District and was brought up specifically by the Fontana officials whose city lost almost $800,000 because of the 2011 budget trailer bill.
More than 140 cities that had expanded or annexed areas lost out on much needed revenue to help pay for city services to these new areas. Of all the cities who lost this funding stream, Fontana and San Bernardino were among the cities that lost the most, collectively losing just under $900,000 annually.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
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Contact: Galen Dobbins, galen.dobbins@asm.ca.gov, (916) 319-2047