Our City and County Budgets Will Shape Our Futures

By Dr. John E. Warren
The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
https://sdvoice.info/

As the City and County of San Diego engage in the final steps of reaching a balanced budget, which both are required to do by law, it is extremely important that “We The People” be reminded of both our rights and responsibility to the budget process.  First, let us look at the City of San Diego Budget the Mayor is required to present to the City Council in order to close a 258 million dollar deficit. The City Council determines where those cuts are to be made, and you, the voter, determine how the City Council votes. 

While some of us have been engaged in the process, which we witnessed this week with the outpouring of support for restoring cuts to our libraries and parks, which did yield some restoration of funds, there are still too few of us speaking out. This issue is of particular importance at this time because it has been suggested that those communities with greatest need should have fewer cuts in necessities such as library and parks and recreation services. The reality is, there is a better way to make those decisions other than just asking those who might have to help those who have less.

It has been suggested that a look at census tracks might yield a better picture of actual economic need in affected areas. I would go a step further and suggest that such census tract review should look at Single Member Districts under the Census, which will give an even better view of demographics. This is especially important for Districts 4, 8, and 9 of the City of San Diego. The next public hearing for residents is May 19, 2025 at 6 pm. This is a few days after the Mayor presents his revised budget. 

Second, this is the time for all of us who pay taxes and fund these funds to do our homework on the City’s ongoing budget problems, while not ignoring the San Diego County Budget Process which has even greater impact for some because of the County’s Health and Human Services Agency being responsible for all our health programs from Medi-Cal to the courts, and housing for all our 18 cities and unincorporated areas.

Let’s not be too busy today to spend some time on those projects, like budgets, which will affect our future in the year to come.