Alhambra : Trial Set on Cities’ Tax Suit

Lawsuits filed by Alhambra and other local government agencies challenging the shift of property tax funds from cities and counties to the state will go to trial March 18.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert H. O’Brien set the trial date last week.

At an earlier hearing, he linked Alhambra’s lawsuit against the state with similar suits by Marin and San Diego counties.

Alhambra’s lawsuit was prompted by two years of property and redevelopment tax shifting by the state.

The city filed the suit last February after the state in its 1992-93 budget took $1.2 million in property taxes and redevelopment agency funds from Alhambra.

In September, the Legislature balanced the state budget by taking $2.6 billion in taxes previously allotted to cities and counties. The money was used for public education. Alhambra lost another $600,000 as its share of that figure.

More than 75 cities have supported the suit. Los Angeles County filed a similar lawsuit last summer and lost. An appeal was heard Thursday.

Judges will have 90 days to issue a decision.

The state also won a similar case filed by Sacramento, Santa Cruz and Solano counties.

Alhambra attorneys maintain that the city’s arguments are different from those of the counties and stands a better chance of prevailing.