S. Tahoe’s persistence pays off with state
By Kathryn Reed
Hours of phone calls, countless emails and several meetings resulted in the state Department of Finance on Dec. 26 saying it only wants a check for $274,473 instead of $1,911,519.
South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry played hardball with the state agency when it came to what the successor agency to the city’s Redevelopment Agency would relinquish from its housing fund.
It’s a double-edged sword as to why the dollar amount dropped so significantly. Because the El Dorado County tax collector provided the state with the revised assessment figures on the “hole in the ground” near Stateline, the successor agency doesn’t have as much money as the state believes it is owed.
While this is good news for now, it means those 11 acres are not bringing in the projected revenue even as near-vacant land.
The successor agency will use what funds it has to make a modest dent in the $100 million debt it has for having borrowed so much money to get the Heavenly Village project built.
The dissolution of redevelopment agencies by the governor was all about getting more money into state coffers. It has backfired a bit because of all of the outstanding debt tied to various redevelopment agencies.
The local oversight board is scheduled to meet Jan. 4 to go over the next series of due diligence reports from the county auditor. The board will meet again Jan. 14. Both meetings are at 2pm at Lake Tahoe Airport.
Wasn’t it Lovell who voted for this project in 2007 after Cole suggested the city go forward with it in 2006?
I would like to congratulate City Manager Nancy Kerry on her tenacity and her proficient knowledge and understanding of the applicable portion of the very complicated Redevelopment Successor Agency rules/laws, thus thwarting the State’s attempt to take $1.6 million of the City of SLT’s much needed money. Redevelopment Successor Agency rules/laws presently possess a simultaneous combination of complexity and ambiguity and for Ms. Kerry to argue the City’s position and prevail required a thorough understanding of this portion of Redevelopment Successor Agency rules/laws and the tenacity to take on the California State Department of Finance, neither of which is easy. This was good and impressive work. Thank you.
I too want to thank Nancy for her hard work helping this city. Now were are all the anti-city people on this topic, you just can’t stand that someone is really working for you. Nice job Nancy!!!!!
Never underestimate Nancy Kerry’s capabilities.
Congratulations!
It looks like Nancy Kerry is the bright spot in the City government. One of the best choices and done without consultants. An in-house choice. Hmmm.
Thanks Nancy — it is good to know we finally have an astute, educated and hard-working City Manager! Hooray for us! You are a great role-model and Manager!
Congratulations on saving the City over 1.6 Million! This news should be on the front page. Our City Manager knows how to get things done and she deserves recognition. Good job City!