Legislature Acts Quickly on Flood-Relief Plan

Legislators gave tentative approval Wednesday to Gov. George Deukmejian’s $115-million assistance plan for Northern California flood victims.

A Senate-Assembly conference committee, acting a day after the governor announced the proposal, ordered legislation drafted that will allow for individual state grants of up to $5,000 for flood victims--in addition to $5,000 they already are entitled to from the federal government--along with property tax relief and state income tax write-offs for both individuals and businesses.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Dominic L. Cortese (D-San Jose) and Sen. William Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), also would provide counties with $60 million to disburse to local government agencies and individuals who suffered losses as a result of the flooding.

On the ‘Fast Track’

Cortese said the legislation was on the “fast track,” meaning that there was bipartisan agreement to hurry approval of the bill, but said it probably would be at least two weeks before “the money begins to flow.”

The proposed state financial assistance would be in addition to federal aid.

Estimates place losses caused by the flooding at more than $319 million. Twelve Northern California counties have been declared federal disaster areas, making them eligible for emergency relief. Deukmejian declared a state of emergency due to flooding in an additional 17 counties.

Conference committee members said the state may have to increase its aid above $115 million when all the losses are counted. “It’s so early that we really only have a rough idea of what the damages really are,” said Sen. John Doolittle (R-Citrus Heights), one of six members of the committee.

Cash to Be Available

Under the proposed emergency assistance plan, the state would provide up to $5,000 in supplemental financial assistance to individuals and families if their losses exceed the $5,000 that the federal government will provide.

Another element of the plan would provide $15 million in property tax relief to reflect losses and decreased property valuations caused by the flooding. Essentially, this would exempt from property tax payments that are due April 1 people who can demonstrate substantial property damage.

The legislation also would provide $26 million in tax write-offs. Under the plan, individuals could extend state tax deductions allowed for flood losses over three tax years, while businesses would be allowed to carry forward the deductions for 15 years.

The $60 million in grants to counties would go to the 29 counties identified as emergency areas by Deukmejian. The legislation tentatively calls for the money to be disbursed by each county’s board of supervisors. The boards would have the flexibility to use the cash for such things as providing additional aid to individuals, granting funds to cover the cost of damage to government facilities, such as schools, or helping businesses recover from flood damage.

Flood Victims Line Up

In related developments Wednesday, flood victims began applying for federal aid to rebuild as emergency relief centers opened in each of the nine hardest-hit counties. In Guerneville, a heavily damaged Sonoma County community on the Russian River, residents began lining up at 6 a.m., three hours before the makeshift center opened in a church hall. Officials said 300 applications had been picked up by noon.

Elsewhere, about 5,000 people still were unable to return to their homes in the western section of Linda in Yuba County, north of Sacramento, officials said. And in Thornton, 55 miles to the south, some homes may remain under water for several weeks, the officials said.

Crews trying to lower water levels around Linda and Thorton are “crying for pumps” and have extended their search as far east as Oklahoma, said Don Neudeck, state flood control chief.