Draft CRIA Plan - Link 

In 2020, the City of Victorville (“City”) began the formation of a Community Revitalization and Investment Authority (“CRIA”) within the Old Town Victorville Area (“CRIA Area”). CRIAs are an economic development and affordable housing tool enacted into law by Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2 in 2015. AB 2 authorized local government agencies to finance the revitalization of disadvantaged communities through planning and financing infrastructure improvements, economic development activities, and affordable housing tax increment contributed by eligible, consenting taxing entities.

Background

Pursuant to California Government Code (“GOV”) Sections 62001(d) and 62001(e), a CRIA may implement a community revitalization plan within an area that meets multiple conditions, including areas within disadvantaged communities or that experience an Area Median Income (“AMI”) that is less than 80% of the state, county, or citywide AMI and experience high unemployment rates, high crime rates, deteriorated infrastructure, and deteriorated structures.

In 2021, Senate Bill (“SB”) 780 was enacted to improve the utilization of tax increment financing tools, such as the CRIA. While CRIAs provided jurisdictions with a means to generate additional funding for housing development, improvements to the CRIA legislation were needed to help spur the development of affordable housing and community public infrastructure projects. Prior to SB 780, a CRIA could only include parcels that were in an area characterized by several factors, including high unemployment and crime rates, inadequate infrastructure, and deteriorated structures, among others. SB 780 allows local jurisdictions to include sites deemed suitable for housing development as identified in its certified housing element, and parcels zoned to allow transit priority projects as part of their CRIA area. With this additional flexibility, CRIAs across California can collect more revenue to help finance the development of affordable housing and support economic development efforts.

On February 6, 2023, the CRIA Board held its first CRIA Public Hearing to hear all written and oral comments from the public. During this hearing, the CRIA Board voted to modify the boundaries of the Victorville CRIA to include not only Old Town, but also the certified 6th Cycle Housing Element sites (“CRIA Area”), as allowed by SB 780 (See enclosed map of the CRIA Area).

Public Hearing Process

Pursuant to GOV Section 62003, the governing board of the CRIA (“CRIA Board”) shall adopt a community revitalization and investment plan (“CRIA Plan”) that may include project areas and a provision for the receipt of tax increment funds generated within such project areas. The Victorville CRIA Plan seeks to assist in the implementation of the Victorville Old Town Specific Plan and, consequently, facilitate economic revitalization and the provision of affordable housing in the CRIA Area.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

June 5, 2023 @ 5 p.m.

Agendas

What is a CRIA? 

A Community Revitalization Investment Authority (CRIA) is a public body with jurisdiction to carry out community revitalization in a defined investment area. The state of California approved the formation of CRIAs in 2015 with the adoption of AB 2. 

Why establish a CRIA? 
After the state ended local funding for redevelopment in 2012, the CRIA is one of the only funding mechanisms available to local municipalities for revitalization efforts. The City of Victorville is establishing a CRIA as a tool to revitalize Old Town Victorville and develop affordable housing. 

How does Old Town qualify for a CRIA? 
The Old Town Area satisfies state requirements to form a CRIA ­the annual household income is below 80 percent of the statewide median, unemployment is at least 3 percent higher than the statewide median, crime rates are at least 5 percent higher than the statewide median, and the area has deteriorated commercial and residential structures. 

How does a CRIA work? 
The CRIA allows for tax increment financing. As developers and businesses improve and build on properties in the investment area; their properties will have a higher appraised value resulting in greater property tax assessment collected by the County. This increased assessment would occur even without a CRIA; but with it in place, the increased revenue is allocated directly to the CRIA for use only within the investment area. 

How can CRIA funds be used for Revitalization? 
The City plans to use property tax increment revenue for revitalization activities like infrastructure improvements; low- and moderate-income housing development; real property acquisition; loans or grants to owners and tenants to improve, rehabilitate and retrofit buildings; and business assistance. 

What are the benefits to the County? 
Higher appraised property values result in higher tax assessment for the County. Also, as Old Town is revitalized, the need for County support services is reduced. 

Who serves on the CRIA Board? 
Three Council Members and two community members, who live in Victorville and either reside and/or work in the Authority Plan Area, will comprise the Old Town CRIA Board. 

Does the CRIA impose a new tax? 
No. The increased revenue would not be generated from a new tax. Instead, the increased revenue or increment would result from rising property values within the project area. For example, as developers and businesses improve and build; their properties will have a higher appraised value resulting in greater property tax assessment collected by the County. This revenue would be allocated to the CRIA for use only within the investment area. 

Representatives

The CRIA Board must consist of Mayor Debra Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Becerra, Council Member Leslie Irving, Jennifer Neri and Steve Blech. 

Inquiries

Inquiries regarding the Community Revitalization Investment Authority can be directed to (760) 955-5135 or the CRIA Representative.