ImperialValleyLiving.Com

May 25, 2010

By Community Report

Yesterday, the Imperial County disaster relief bill passed the Assembly Floor with strong, bipartisan support. 

Authored by Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez together with State Senator Denise Ducheny and Assemblymember Mary Salas, AB 2136 is a tax relief bill intended to aid those impacted by the Sierra El Mayor earthquake that occurred April 4.

The bill supplements a number of existing provisions in the law that can be helpful to local jurisdictions, small business, and individuals after a natural disaster.  The provisions of the bill would:

Backfill local government for the temporary loss of property taxes due to any property re-assessments claimed by local property owners;  

• Ensure that property owners still qualify for the homeowner’s property tax exemption, even if their principal residence was temporarily damaged or destroyed by the quake;
• Enable tax payers, including small business owners, to carry forward their losses due to the disaster for five years, not just in the year of the loss; and
• Remove the 25% local government match requirement for receiving federal assistance in covering certain public infrastructure costs.

“We are working together to facilitate the recovery and rebuilding,” said Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez.  “The tax provisions in this bill will help reduce the burden on individuals, small business owners, and local governments.”  The bill next moves to the State Senate Rules Committee, where it will be assigned to the appropriate policy committee.