Article 2. Findings And Declarations of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 24. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 2.

The Legislature finds and declares that the security of millions of dollars of indebtedness incurred prior to July 1, 1978, and dependent upon taxes allocated pursuant to Section 16 of Article XVI of the California Constitution and subdivision (b) of Section 33670 for its security is seriously threatened.

The Legislature further finds and declares that unless supplemental sources of revenue for the payment of such indebtedness can be established, a substantial portion of such indebtedness will not be repaid, which will include the default of bonds and the breach of contractual obligations, and that if such defaults and breaches of contract occur, the credit and future borrowing capacity of both local agencies and the state may be impaired.

The Legislature further finds and declares that such defaults and breach of contracts may result in lengthy and costly legal actions against public agencies for the impairment of contractual rights.

The Legislature further finds and declares that there is a need to establish a flexible procedure to enable legislative bodies to obtain necessary supplemental revenues to pay the incurred indebtedness because the need for state funds for such purpose will be decreased and because the facts and circumstances surrounding each project and the indebtedness incurred are different and different solutions may be required.

The Legislature further finds and declares that certain properties within the boundaries of redevelopment project areas established pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Law have increased in value and have received and will continue to receive special benefits from redevelopment activities undertaken by agencies, including, but not limited to, acquisition, assembly and disposition of lands, demolition and site clearance and the construction of public improvements financed by the proceeds of indebtedness incurred by redevelopment agencies.

The Legislature further finds and declares that the establishment of special assessments on the properties so specially benefited from the activities described in Section 33814 is the most equitable method for providing supplemental revenues to be used to pay the indebtedness.

It is the purpose of this chapter to authorize and provide for the establishment of special assessment areas within redevelopment project areas and for the levy of special assessments on properties within such special assessment areas to obtain supplemental revenues to be used for the payment of indebtedness incurred prior to July 1, 1978, and temporary borrowing from the state incurred to avoid default thereon.

A special assessment area may include any or all property within a project area as the project area existed on July 1, 1978, established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 33300) of this part, and may, but need not be, coterminous with such project area; however, only properties benefited by redevelopment activities described in Section 33814 shall be included within the special assessment area. The properties included in a special assessment area may be either contiguous or noncontiguous; however, only properties within a single project area may be included within a single special assessment area.