Berg's disaster relief bill moves forward
SACRAMENTO -- A legislative committee this week approved a bill by Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka, that would give state tax relief to residents and counties affected by flooding and mudslides in December and January.
By mid-week, Assembly Bill 1798 had sailed through two Assembly policy committees without receiving a single vote in opposition. The bill was approved Wednesday by the Assembly Committee on Local Government. It was previously approved by the Revenue and Taxation Committee.
"Everyone in the Legislature agrees that people whose lives are upended by a natural disaster should receive some kind of help from the state," said Berg "I'm very pleased by the support my colleagues are showing to residents of the North Coast."
The bill would add the so-called New Year's storms to a list of disasters that qualify for state aid. Between Dec. 17, 2005, and Jan. 3, a series of powerful storms pounded the northern half of the state, bringing destructive winds and dumping enough water to saturate hillsides and overflow streams and rivers. Hundreds of people were forced from their homes, more than a half million went for days without power. The storm damaged roads and bridges, schools and businesses. Three people lost their lives.
AB 1798 ensures that residents can continue to receive residential tax credits even if they have to abandon their homes. It also requires the state to reimburse counties for lost revenue when property owners can no longer pay their tax bills, and gives tax flexibility to businesses damaged by the storms.
AB 1798 provides relief to the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Trinity.
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