Murrieta's $2.5-Million RDA Question Gets TV Time

Murrieta needs to if it wants to keep its redevelopment agency afloat per legislation signed into law earlier this year that forces cities to pay out.

But the Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether such legislation is legal, and you can watch the justices ponder the question live.

The state’s high court approved a live statewide TV broadcast and webcast of the redevelopment case on the public affairs network California Channel, www.calchannel.com. Oral arguments will be aired from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Nov. 10.

The state Supreme Court case, California Redevelopment Assn. v. Matosantos, involves the validity of Assembly Bill 26 X1 and Assembly Bill 27 X1, which were both signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in June as part of the state budget package.

in which municipalities pay the state to keep their local redevelopment agencies afloat.

Murrieta Mayor Pro Tem Doug McAllister--along with city officials across the state--has called the payout "a ransom."

"(Sacramento) came up with a scheme that is nothing less than extortion," Murrieta City Councilman Rick Gibbs said, at one point.

On Aug. 11, the high court allowed AB X1 26 to remain in effect insofar as it precludes existing redevelopment agencies from essentially doing anything--like incurring new indebtedness, transferring assets, acquiring real property, entering into new contracts or modifying existing contracts, entering into new partnerships, adopting or amending redevelopment plans, etc.--but it stayed enforcement of both statutes in all other respects.

The court has stated it will expedite a speedy briefing schedule in the case. It has said it will render a final decision before Jan. 15, 2012, when agencies are supposed to make their first payout.

Prior to the bills, Murrieta and other cities had control over where their redevelopment dollars were spent. Murrieta has used such funds to improve road infrastructure, such as at Los Alamos and Interstate 215, and at Clinton Keith Road and Interstate 215.

To view the high court’s complete calendar, visit www.courts.ca.gov/documents/snovb11.pdf.

Maggie Avants contributed to this report.