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Prop D Opponents Say Public Safety Cuts Not Needed

Prop D Opponents Say Public Safety Cuts Not Needed
Supporters of San Diego’s proposed sales tax increase says public safety budgets will be slashed if the proposition fails. But tax opponents reject that idea.

Interactive reference guide for state and local propositions in the November 2010 Election.

Supporters of San Diego’s proposed sales tax increase say public safety budgets will be slashed if the proposition fails. But tax opponents reject that idea.

Both San Diego’s fire and police departments have announced how they’d go about cutting millions of dollars from their budgets if the sales tax increase is voted down. The mayor’s office has asked the cuts to be identified as a way to close next year’s $73 million deficit.

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But Councilman Kevin Faulconer said there are things the city council can do now to address the deficit and leave public safety alone.

“If the council implements managed competition, that alone can save $30 million on the low end. The council also needs to implement a 401 K-style pension reform plan,” he said.

Faulconer said the council can avoid having to lay off police officers and firefighters if there are serious financial reforms.

But supporters of Proposition D say it’s going to take a combination of the sales tax increase and reforms to get back San Diego back on track.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.