Gov. Brown again rejects bill to restore Menifee VLF fees

It was a surprise to no one, but a disappointment indeed for City of Menifee officials today when Gov. Jerry Brown once again rejected an attempt by legislators to restore lost state funding to Menifee and three other Riverside County cities incorporated in recent years.

Brown today officially informed California State Senate members he would not sign SB 817 -- the latest bill designed to restore to Menifee, Jurupa Valley, Wildomar and Eastvale the share of vehicle license fees they have been denied since a state budget adjustment by the governor in 2011. This loss of revenue enjoyed by other California cities -- estimated at $4.2 million per year by city officials -- is one reason the Menifee City Council voted to place on the November ballot a measure regarding a proposed 1 percent sales tax increase.

SB 817 -- co-authored by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) and Senator Richard Roth -- sought to require state budget adjustments to allow Menifee and the other three cities to once again receive this state funding. According to Menifee Mayor Scott Mann, the governor's action has cost Menifee more than $20 million in the last five years and is a primary reason there is a budget shortfall when more funds are needed for police protection and road construction.

This is the third time legislation aimed at restoring those lost VLF fees has been vetoed by Brown.

"I am not surprised, but I am incredibly disappointed," Mann said. "None of us gets the governor's position. It simply doesn't make sense. As the former mayor of Oakland, one would think that Governor Brown understands delivering services to residents. I can only hope that he addresses the issue when he announces his next budget in January 2017."

In his announcement, Brown referred to a 2015 Senate Bill 107, which provided debt relief for the four Riverside County cities and specific other California cities in county in need of fiscal relief. According to Brown, a total of $24 million was awarded to those four cities through the September 2015 bill.

"While I commend Senator Roth's tireless commitment to assist the cities, this bill requires the state to make additional and long-term General Fund spending commitments," Brown wrote in his decision. "As such, this proposal must be considered in light of other budget priorities during upcoming budget deliberations."

Another Menifee city official speaking out against Brown's decision today was council member Matt Liesemeyer.

"I'm disappointed but not surprised," Liesemeyer said. "Governor Brown clearly does not care about Menifee and clearly does not understand the consequences of his decisions. With all of the crazy coming out of Sacramento, nothing really surprises me anymore.

"It just makes the sales tax measure that much more important."