16-02-2025
San Diego faces $258M budget deficit, seeks public input
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The City of San Diego is facing a quarter of a billion dollar budget deficit, and time is ticking to make cuts.
The final $258 million budget must be approved by June 15.
The Office of the Independent Budget Analyst hosted a community forum in Mission Valley Saturday morning to talk with residents about the shortfall, how the city got here, and what comes next.
Charles Modica, the City's Independent Budget Analyst (IBA), said cuts are necessary.
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He said the city has, for decades, lacked the resources it needs to maintain the city's needs. He also said the sales and hotel tax rates are lower than comparable cities and the city hasn't charged for trash collection, while the city's infrastructure and maintenance has been deferred for decades.
During the last election, Measure E did not pass, it's a tax measure that city leaders had pushed for. According to Modica, Measure E would have closed the budget gap and provided $350 million per year in ongoing revenue.
He said he's concerned with the options the city has presented so far.
'I'm troubled by what we've seen so far today from the council, which is a focus on raising more money. They appear to be focused on just more taxes, more fees,' Krueger added.
San Diego begins looking at potential cuts to close $258M budget deficit
The city recently increased parking meter rates, as much as double in most areas. That is expected to bring in $9 million per year. But the city is now considering more parking changes, including increasing the areas for paid beach parking, and extending parking meter hours.
These meetings allow for city residents to have more time to talk directly with the IBA and get their questions answered directly – instead of having usually one minute to talk, without getting an answer, at a city council meeting during public comment.
A representative from the mayor's office was at Saturday's meeting.
'What is worse, paying $5 to park at the beach, or having your library budget cut in half? They are both bad,' Modica said during Saturday's community meeting.
The final forum is scheduled for:
Thursday, February 20, 6-8 p.m.
Mira Mesa Senior Center
8460 Mira Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92126
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