Local Schools Reap Benefits From Redistributed Redevelopment Funds

More than $157 million once dedicated to local Redevelopment Agencies has instead flowed into accounts of public entities in San Mateo County since Gov. Jerry Brown abolished Redevelopment Agencies two years ago.

The end of Redevelopment Agencies was fraught with controversy. Many cities lobbied hard to maintain the agencies because the organizations helped cities draw in new businesses through loans and tax breaks, while supporting existing stores and industry through beautification projects and infrastructure improvements.
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Redevelopment agencies financed their activities through a share of the increases in property tax realized over the life of a project area, money that is now being divided among other public entities.

Statewide, $4 billion was to redirected cities, the county, schools and special districts when Redevelopment ended. The state Department of Finance released a report earlier this month detailing where the monies had been sent.

In northern San Mateo County, K-12 schools saw the largest influx to their coffers, with more than $40 million in funds distributed to school districts serving South San Francisco, Pacifica, Millbrae and San Bruno.

Community colleges received nearly $5.5 million and the county itself got more than $12 million from those four former Redevelopment Agencies, according to data from the state Department of Finance published by the Los Angeles News Group. The city got a payment of about $119,400, one of the lowest in all of San Mateo County. 

Half Moon Bay did not have a Redevelopment Agency in 2011, so no local funds are being redirected to other coffers. 

Still, check out the chart above to see the other local public entities that benefited from the redistribution of Redevelopment funds, and how it compares to the rest of the county.