SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Governor Newsom signed a bill by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that will allow the City of Rosemead to have access to funds for local infrastructure projects that have been unavailable.

Senate Bill 1307 will allow the City of Rosemead to utilize funding established through the 1919 Lighting District funds for public benefits allowed under 1972 Landscape and Lighting Act.

“One of my priorities has always been to work with my local cities to find local solutions,” Senator Rubio said. “This legislation came out of one of the many roundtables I’ve had with officials from Senate District 22 to see how we can work together to best serve our residents. I thank the Governor for signing this piece of legislation that will help the City of Rosemead by giving them access to funding for critical infrastructure projects amid difficult financial times.”

The Street Lighting Act of 1919 allows a city to use its Ad Valorem allocation from its existing property tax dedicated to funding street lighting.  Funds from the 1919 Act can only be used for lighting maintenance and cannot be used for landscape maintenance, which is allowed under the 1972 Act. 

The City of Rosemead has accumulated excess funds due to the limited permissible uses from that revenue and at the same time has accumulated a deficit from its funding source in the direct assessment under the 1972 Act. 

This has created an imbalance in the district, with unusable funds currently projected at over $2 million. With this bill signed into law, the city’s district now has authorization from the state to use these funds for improved maintenance and capital improvements on city streets, street trees, and medians. 

Senate District 22 is comprised of San Gabriel Valley cities Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, El Monte, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Rosemead, South El Monte, Temple City and West Covina as well as the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Charter Oak, Citrus, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Mayflower Village, North El Monte, South Monrovia Island, South San Gabriel, South San Jose Hills, Valinda, Vincent and West Puente Valley.

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