The Santa Clarita Planning Commission has been given the go-ahead to process the application for the Castaic Hasley Canyon area to be annexed into the City of Santa Clarita, as requested by a petition filed by 72% of the residents of that area last year. Hasley Canyon includes the areas of Hasley Hills, Live Oak and North Bluff communities, as well as the Valencia Commerce Center. The next steps can take as long as 6 to 12 months, as the Santa Clarita Planning Commission and LAFCO (Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission) work through the annexation procedures. This annexation saga has been unfolding for over a year now, with the West Ranch Town Council and Newhall Land being the most vocal opponents of Santa Clarita's annexation of the Hasley Canyon area. Annexation studies that were authorized months ago by both the City of Santa Clarita and Supervisor Antonovich's office have yet to be started. The West Ranch Town Council has voiced its preference for a "new" city to be formed outside the City of Santa Clarita, to include the "West Side" areas of Stevenson Ranch, Sunset Pointe, Westridge, Southern Oaks, Castaic and Val Verde. Newhall Land has undeveloped land holdings in the annexation area. "We are opposed to our undeveloped property being part of the annexation. Our philosophy has been that it is within the county, and that's where we're processing our tentative tract maps," says Marlee Lauffer. Would Los Angeles County be more lenient in allowing this vacant land to be developed? Likely so, at least according to recent history. After all, Santa Clarita is only a small portion of the total territory that Los Angeles County is responsible for managing. Antonovich is sponsoring a study in favor of creating a new city, and for obvious financial reasons. The California laws regarding the formation of new cities clearly state that the County cannot be harmed financially by the formation of any new city. Or, in real-speak, the money that the County currently takes from the West Side in excess of their "needs" will continue to go to the County, whether they incorporate into a new city or not. So what is gained by forming a new city? Political control and the responsibility for managing local services such as police, fire, road maintenance and... political control. Considering that the West Ranch Town Council was reportedly "elected" by less than 100 of the residents of that area, is it really wise to hand over political and financial control over the West Side to that group? In 2006, Los Angeles County helped themselves to over $20 million in so-called surplus revenues from Santa Clarita's unincorporated areas, including the West Side. If the West Side were to annex into an existing City, such as the City of Santa Clarita, rather than incorporating, this $20 million surplus would flow into the annexing City rather than into the Los Angeles County coffers to be distributed who knows where. According to Ken Pulskamp, Santa Clarita's City Manager, "Annexation allows you to keep your tax dollars local. The money that is spent on this side of the freeway [the West Side] can be spent anywhere in the county now, and let's face it, this is not the area the Board of Supervisors is seeing as having the highest need." Translation: That $20 million is more likely to be spent in Compton than anywhere near the Santa Clarita Valley. Meanwhile, Sunset Pointe has joined the Castaic Hasley Canyon area in requesting annexation into the City of Santa Clarita, defying the West Ranch Town Council as well as the Castaic Town Council by opting to have some control over their own destinies. | 
