Wildomar's Missing $1.7 Million Likely Not Being Returned

Wildomar leaders have appeared optimistic despite bad news this week that more than $1.7 million the state took from the city is not being returned anytime soon, if at all.

On Sept. 12, the California's legislative session ended without passage of Senate Bill 56 or its successor, Senate Bill 69.

The legislation would have helped restore lost vehicle license fee revenues to four new cities in Riverside County, including Wildomar.

SB 69 has been re-referred to committee, but whether it will ever pass is uncertain.

In June 2011, Wildomar lost its VLF revenues with the quick swipe of a pen when Gov. Jerry Brown signed off on his budget package. As part of that package, VLF revenues were stripped from local cities and directed to state coffers. 

Although the VLF revenue stream would have "phased down" for Wildomar and the three other new cities over a five-year period after incorporation, the immediate hit was a tough one for the young jurisdictions. Right off the top, Wildomar lost more than $1.7 million just as it was beginning its 2011/12 fiscal year. Jurupa Valley was just days away from becoming a city when the governor signed off on the budget package.

Wildomar officials have insisted their city will persevere into the future, and while there was optimism SB 56 would pass it was never counted on. The 2013/14 fiscal year budget was approved this summer without the hope of an added $1.7 million.

The City of Jurupa Valley has not been so lucky. Officials there have threatened that if SB 56 did not pass, the city could be forced to disincorporate by the end of the year because of budget woes.