LA lawmaker to introduce bill for Bell residents

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A Los Angeles Assemblyman will introduce a bill Tuesday that would enable residents of Bell to receive $2.9 million in rebates from overpaid property taxes.

Assemblyman Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) will unveil the legislation at a press conference in Sacramento Tuesday morning. The measure is also backed by state controller John Chiang.

De Leon said the measure was aimed at giving Bell residents “some help from the inept and corrupt administration in Bell.”

In an audit of the city’s finances, Chiang found that the city illegally charged residents a $2.9 million “retirement tax” to pay for rising pension costs in the city. The tax was levied as a property tax against homeowners in the city.

Chiang ordered Bell officials to surrender that tax revenue. But under state law, overpayment of property taxes would go to Bell schools.

DeLeon’s bill would allow residents to receive refunds on those overpaid taxes.

--Anthony York in Sacramento