Court is not always the best choice

Lawsuits are not always the answer. It is a lesson Surf City should

have learned in the past.

The state Board of Equalization dealt a harsh blow to the city

when it reassessed the value of the AES Huntington Beach plant from

$260 million to $93 million in December, cutting $1.6 million in

expected revenue. But a plan to sue the state will likely cost

taxpayers more.

City planners, and residents in Southeast Huntington Beach, had

counted on the $1.6 million in property tax revenue from the plant to

help revitalize the 172-acre redevelopment area, which is hemmed by

Hamilton Avenue, Newland Street, Magnolia Street and Pacific Coast

Highway.

That money would have paid for roadwork, storm drain and sidewalk

improvements, lighting, and landscaping desperately needed in the

Southeast area.

The situation is dire considering the cuts and layoffs in the city

during the last two years. It is a blow that will be difficult to

bear. Residents in the Southeast need and deserve the area to be

revitalized. It is, after all, a city’s responsibility to keep up the

infrastructure. But city leaders should spend their time and energies

finding another way to help that area rather than crying no fair and

spending time, resources, energy and money to sue the state.

City officials claim that the method used by the state Board of

Equalization to assess the plant’s property value was unfair, given

the $250 million poured into improvements and the plant’s waterfront

locale.

“We feel that the state board of equalization abused its

discretion in assessing the appropriate fair market value to the

property,” City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said.

This argument will no doubt be difficult to win.

A more active solution should be worked on here at home, rather

than getting embroiled in a costly battle with the state that

Huntington cannot afford to lose.