WRCOG reports hundreds of unclaimed HERO refunds; staff escheated older funds to state under prior direction
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Summary
WRCOG staff told the executive committee that many residential PACE (HERO) refunds remain unclaimed; the agency followed a November 2022 directive to transfer eligible dormant refunds to the state after due-diligence outreach.
Ashelle Pineda, a WRCOG analyst, reported to the executive committee that the agency continues to process unclaimed refunds tied to the residential PACE (HERO) program and that older dormant refunds have been transferred to the State of California after following the agency's escheatment process.
Pineda said WRCOGlaunched its residential PACE program in 2011 and expanded statewide by 2014. The executive committee directed staff in November 2022 to escheat unclaimed refunds that had remained dormant for three or more years; staff described the five-step process the agency follows before transferring funds to the state, including mailing due-diligence notices, processing claims and submitting holder and remittance reports.
For the 2024 reporting cycle (refunds dated July 2020 through June 2021, per staff), Pineda said staff identified 615 unclaimed refunds totaling just under $1.1 million. WRCOG processed 79 refunds (about $146,000) to rightful owners; the remaining 536 refunds, valued at roughly $910,000, were transferred to the state by June 15, 2025.
For the 2025 reporting cycle (refunds dated July 2021 through June 2022), staff identified 446 unclaimed refunds worth about $697,000. As of Sept. 5, staff had reunited 22 refunds totaling just under $40,000 with their owners.
Pineda said staff attempt follow-up outreach (phone, email) when mailed checks return undeliverable, but legal counsel advised against sharing lists of affected property owners with committee members because of privacy and potential legal exposure. Instead, WRCOG directs residents to claimit.ca.gov and posts a flyer and instructions on WRCOG's website.
A committee member from Norco asked whether many unclaimed refunds were due to people moving or dying; Pineda replied that refunds often occur because a property owner paid off an assessment via a tax bill payment and did not realize an overpayment created a separate refund due. A committee member noted an individual unclaimed amount of about $86,000 as an example of larger unresolved refunds.
Pineda closed by noting the presentation was "received on file" and offered to answer follow-up questions.