By: @Marcus Detwiler
On Monday, April 27, CSDA Legislative Representative Marcus Detwiler and Ripon Fire Protection District Fire Chief Eric DeHart testified before the California State Senate Transportation Committee in opposition to a proposal to divert local revenue toward the California High-Speed Rail project.
Watch Special District Testimony
The Senate Transportation Committee convened an informational hearing concerning the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (Authority) draft 2026 Business Plan. The hearing served as an opportunity for members of the Committee to critically examine the plan and press representatives from the Authority for details; also testifying at the Committee hearing were representatives from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Office of the Inspector General for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
During the course of the hearing, State Senators quizzed the Authority on its current financial situation, its plans for the future, and the obstacles and opportunities it foresaw for the high-speed rail project. Senators Dave Cortese, Scott Wiener, and Catherine Blakespear each spoke at various turns expressing sentiments best characterized as demonstrating general support for the project. However, following critical testimony concerning the draft 2026 Business Plan by the Legislative Analyst’s Office and High Speed Rail Inspector General, Senator Blakespear commented, “Well, this is a disaster. I mean I am such an enthusiast for rail and I really want this to be successful, and just hearing these things makes it seem like we’re proceeding on a wing and a prayer. Basically, that we don’t have a way to finance it, we have changes to the plan, we don’t know what’s actually going to happen, and we don’t have accurate information.”
On the other hand, Senators Tony Strickland and Kelly Seyarto expressed deep skepticism with the financial situation of the Authority and the fate of the project, with Senator Strickland pressing the Authority to explain, among other things, the constitutionality of the tax increment financing proposal contained within the draft 2026 Business Plan. Senator Laura Richardson at one point asked the Authority about the status of federal funds for the project and whether the Authority anticipated additional federal funds; the Authority would go on to respond that it would continue to seek federal funds, including from subsequent federal administrations.
Chief DeHart traveled to the hearing from his San Joaquin County fire protection district to provide clarity as to the harmful impact the Authority’s tax increment financing proposal would have on special districts like his that rely on property tax receipts to fund their essential services. Tax increment financing generally freezes current tax revenues for local governments and diverts the growth in revenue, even while service demands grow. Serving a community of around 22,000 residents, Ripon Fire Protection District would be placed under significant financial strain while trying to provide fire suppression and related services to their community— at the same time the State is trying to prioritize firefighting capacity throughout California.
CSDA and other representatives of public agencies were at the hearing to voice their concerns as well, oftentimes providing comment aligning with sentiments expressed by CSDA and its coalition partners. A representative from the State Building and Construction Trades Council also attended to provide comments in support of the draft business plan and Authority CEO Ian Choudri.
CSDA, along with the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, the Urban Counties of California, the Rural County Representatives of California, and the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts submitted a coalition letter of opposition to the draft 2026 Business Plan, with concerns primarily centered on the tax increment financing and land use proposals found therein. This letter was submitted to the California High-Speed Rail Authority pursuant to a 60-day comment period on the draft 2026 Business Plan; the comment period closes tomorrow, April 29.
CSDA encourages special districts and other stakeholders concerned with the Authority’s local revenue diversion proposal to submit public comment prior to the April 29 deadline.
For additional background, please see this March 9, 2026 CSDA eNews article: “CSDA Opposes Diversion of Local Revenues to CA High Speed Rail Authority.”
The complete archived video of the nearly three-hour April 27, 2026 Senate Transportation Committee informational hearing can be found here: Media Archive | California State Senate.
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