Most Californians are aware, if at least only vaguely, that our politicians finalized the state’s budget for the year and that Governor Jerry Brown has indeed signed off. That’s last week’s news. Many of us, I am sure, would have appreciated the option of being less aware as it was happening.
Now that all of California’s financial and economic problems have been solved, we can merrily focus on other more important things. Or not.
At least one thing of definite positive value emerged from the budget battle this year – the California Enterprise Zone program has been retained fully intact. It survived because as a substantive tax issue, any meaningful change would have required the agreement of at least two-thirds of California’s state legislators.
There is a bill (AB 1411) working its way through the legislature at this time that offers meaningful but non-tax related reform to Enterprise Zone program. Unlike the Governor’s previous proposals, this new bill can be passed by a simple majority vote – but it won’t harm enterprise zone businesses.
AB 1411, offered by Enterprise Zone supporter, Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez (D-Coachella), seeks to increase the transparency and accountability of the program overall.

“The Enterprise Zone program is an effective tool for local economic development and job creation, and the reforms in this bill will help to better tell that story,” said Pérez. “These reforms have been in the making for quite some time, and I’m pleased to be moving forward with them.”

Read more about it in The Imperial Valley News, online.