This story was reported for San Diego News Network on October 28, 2009.
San Diegans alongside the city’s Budget and Finance Committee gathered together Wednesday evening to discuss the expected shortfall of $179 million for next fiscal year.
“Speak San Diego,” a special series of meetings hosted by the committee, took off in Council President Ben Hueso’s district at a local elementary school.
Complete with the entire committee — including Councilmember and chair of the committee Anthony Young, Councilmembers Todd Gloria, Marti Emerald, Kevin Faulconer and Carl DeMaio and Mayor Jerry Sanders – suggestions from the public were encouraged from the lightly-attended forum.
“I’m here tonight to let you know that national recession and losses on Wall Street have really hurt us this year like every city in America,” Sanders told attendees. “We’re facing, at least a $180 million shortfall. We cannot balance the budget without having some impact on the communities … We’ll be working with you to do that [balance the budget].”
About 25 people attended the first of the Speak San Diego forum with only six San Diegans offering their thoughts on the city’s monetary misery.
Firefighters made up a fraction of the forum’s audience with union vice president Cory Beckwith.
Beckwith, whose members endured a six percent salary cut along with other city employees, asked that councilmembers consider the cuts the firefighters have already had to take.
“Unfortunately, there’s nowhere else to cut unless you get to fire trucks on the road, which means increase response time,” Beckwith said. ” This is a great worry to people who take pride in what they do, and that’s protecting the city of San Diego. If you’re going to cut fire engines, we will all be affected.”
Beckwith also offered suggestions, including finding a way to prevent false alarms so that firefighters work efficiently.
In response to his suggestions, Young said they would be “on the table.”
Although councilmembers asked the public to offer suggestions on how to balance the budget, the majority of speakers offered pleas on what not to cut.
Terisha d’elgin, was among one of the public commentators who asked the budget committee to consider the environment when cutting the budget. She asked that the city consider its vegetation surroundings and the city employees – like park rangers – who care for San Diego’s forestry.
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Louis Klein, a member of the city’s Commission on Arts and Culture, also asked councilmembers to omit San Diego’s art programs by not cutting any funds.
“I just ask for your consideration in terms of the arts,” Klein said. “On behalf of the arts… which is normally not a primary role of the city.”
Sanders $179 million shortfall estimate may not be accurate according to the Independent Budget Analyst, which sees it at roughly $200 million. In addition to the $179 million to $200 million deficit, the city is also facing a $2 billion pension deficit.
Future Speak San Diego Meetings:
– Nov. 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at DePortola Middle School. Address is 11010 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., 92124
– Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hoover High School. Address is 4474 El Cajon Blvd., 92115.
– Dec. 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Joe and Vi Jacobs Center. Address is 404 Euclid Ave., 92114.
Suggestions can also be submitted via the San Diego Speaks Hotline at 619-236-6934 or can be emailed to BudgetandFinance@SanDiego.gov
Although some blame the deficit on the recession, DeMaio told the forum’s attendees other factors come into play.
“I’ll be very candid with you,” he said. “For the city to say, ‘It’s the economy,’ is not the explanation for why we’re in this financial crisis.”
DeMaio explained the pension deficit to attendees and ask that the “main drivers” be accountable for the budget. He also said “there’s not a cut big enough” nor a “tax high enough” to solve the deficit until certain factors are resolved.
“Our debt will be bigger at the end of the year than the beginning of the year,” DeMaio said. “There will be brighter days in our future. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll get that until we’re candid about the severity of the problems.”
Young, who began the Speak San Diego series last fiscal year, said he expects more people to attend future forums. He also said he wanted to make it clear to San Diegans that the deficit is the largest the city has “probably” seen.
“I don’t want to give anybody the impression that we can ask for more street sweeping or have more programs for kids,” he said.
Although the fiscal year just began, Young said it was important the budget cutting process this year began early and that Sanders has already asked every department to consider what they can cut that would total 25 percent.
Gloria, whose office provided handouts simplifying the budget for attendees, also elaborated on the harshness of the problem.
“We need your input… $179 million is one-sixth of our general fund,” he said. “Within your own household budget, if you had to eliminate one-sixth… how would you do that?”
“That’s what the council and mayor are facing.”
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.