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.

Secession efforts have been gathering steam for years. In addition to getting short-changed on services, Valley separatists claim that they are underrepresented at City Hall and thus do not have enough control over issues ranging from local development to school spending.

The new study does not guarantee that the Valley will eventually be permitted to break away from the rest of Los Angeles, but makes it much more likely that the issue will go before voters late next year. Though polls have shown that Valley residents overwhelmingly favor a breakup, the proposal would have to be approved by a majority of all LA-area voters--including those who would be left behind.

If the Valley eventually gets its wish, it would become a city of 1.3 million. That would make it the sixth largest city in the nation.