Ending a study that took more than a year to complete, the Local Agency Formation Commission has determined that in independent Valley would be financially viable and would not harm what would be left of the City of Los Angeles. The study by LAFCO, a government body that must approve such breakups, also confirmed what Valley secessionists have claimed for years: They pay a lot more in taxes than they get back in city services.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and other opponents of secession decried the study's findings. "LAFCO is a very political source," the mayor says. "It's made up of people who support secession."

The 370-page report says that Valley residents and businesses currently pay $68 million a year more in taxes than they get back in services such as police and fire protection, road improvements and trash pick-up. Ironically, state law would require that Valley taxpayers would continue to have to pay that $68 million annually through so-called municipal alimony if they're serious about divorcing themselves from LA.