Report Prepared by: Amanda Williams, Economic Development Associate
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Merced Approving a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule for July 1, 2025, Through June 30, 2026 (ROPS 25-26)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving and adopting a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Merced for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, which is due to the Department of Finance by February 1, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
Successor Agency - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving Resolution SA 2025-01, a Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Merced approving a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS 25-26) including Administrative Budget for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026; and,
B. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make any necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions as specified by the City Council; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by the City Council; or,
4. Defer action until a specific date; or
5. Deny the request.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200; and Health and Safety Code Section 34177.7(o)(1)(E).
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As will be adopted in the FY 25-26 Budget.
BACKGROUND
Pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 1X 26, as modified by Assembly Bill No. 1484 and as further modified by Senate Bill No. 107, which added Parts 1.8 and 1.85 to Division 24 of the Health and Safety Code (“Dissolution Act”), the former Redevelopment Agency of the City of Merced (“Former Agency”) was dissolved February 1, 2012. Because the City of Merced (“City”) declined to serve as the successor agency, the Merced Designated Local Authority, acting as Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency for Merced (“DLA”), was vested with all authority, rights, powers, duties, and obligation of the Former Agency. The City of Merced elected to act as the Successor Agency effective September 17, 2023, thereby terminating the DLA.
Senate Bill (SB) 107 added Health and Safety Code Section 34177(o) requiring the Successor Agency to prepare and adopt a “Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule” (“ROPS”) that lists all obligations of the former Agency that are enforceable within the meaning of subdivision (d) of Section 34171 for twelve-month periods, including July 1, 2025, through June 20, 2026.
The Successor Agency prepares a ROPS to request funding for the following fiscal year beginning July 1. The ROPS includes “enforceable obligations” permitted under the Dissolution Act, including bond payments and administrative expenses.
After approval, the ROPS 25-26 will need to be approved by the Countywide Oversight Board and Department of Finance in accordance with applicable law.
Staff to the Successor Agency desires that the Successor Agency Board approve a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 (ROPS 25-26) to allow for the payment of the enforceable obligations of the Successor Agency.
DISCUSSION
Submission of ROPS for FY 25-26 is being requested for the following:
Bond Payment
Through the ROPS the Successor Agency requests funding to fulfill the “enforceable obligations” permitted under the Dissolution Act, including bond payments and administrative expenses. The Designated Local Authority completed a bond refunding in 2015 in the amount of $15,740,000. The Successor Agency’s last payment toward the bond debt will be in FY 2038-2039. The debt payment for FY 25/26, reflected in the ROPS, is $1,027,900 which includes principal and interest payments, as well as fiscal agent fees.
Administrative Costs
The Successor Agency is requesting funds for administrative costs through June 30, 2026. The Successor Agency is in contract with previous DLA staff to assist with the transition to the City. City staff will complete Successor Agency tasks and provide administrative overview of the Successor Agency records. The ROPS 25-26 includes a request in the amount of $130,000 for all administrative costs (Attachment 2). The categories included in the budget are broken out as follows:
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
All required expenses on the ROPS will be funded by the redevelopment property tax trust funds. The City of Merced will require internal staff to complete tasks and provide administrative overview. The City is able to recover administrative costs from redevelopment property tax trust funds which is included on the ROPS. Successor Agency will be included in the city-wide budget process and adoption.
Recommendation B. will require 5 affirmative votes.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution SA 2025-01
2. Admin Budget 2025-2026