New Altadena ‘Recovery District’ will fund, prioritize rebuilding projects, officials say

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 21, approved the Altadena Wildfire Recovery Infrastructure Financing District, marking what Supervisor Kathryn Barger deemed a “major step forward in rebuilding the community after the devastating Eaton fire earlier this year.”

The district establishes a mechanism that officials say will provide a dedicated, long-term source of funding to restore infrastructure while strengthening Altadena’s resilience against future disasters, officials said.

“The Eaton fire left deep scars on the Altadena community,” Supervisor Barger stated in a press release statement. “This innovative financing approach turns local tax growth into local recovery. Every dollar generated in this community will repair what was lost and equip our community with more resilience.”

Under recently enacted state law, sponsored by the county, Senate Bill 782, created a mechanism for the district, to help communities recover more quickly after disasters: the county will redirect future property tax revenue from the unincorporated town back into the district. That, officials said, will fund vital rebuilding projects.

Such work will include restoration of roads, sidewalks, sewer systems, street lights, and storm drains destroyed in the fire, according to Barger’s office. Officials will also identify programs aimed at supporting septic-to-sewer conversion and electric utility connections for newly undergrounded electrical infrastructure.

The district would be overseen by a five-member Public Financing Authority. It would include three members of the Board of Supervisors – with Barger among them– and two public members appointed by the board.

The financing authority will formally adopt an Infrastructure Financing Plan, address priorities and timelines for funding of projects and programs.