San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders signed the city’s budget today. But he says the city council may have to reassess its finances if the state decides to take money to help cover California’s deficit.
San Diego’s budget fills an $83 million deficit through labor concessions, fee increases and the use of one time reserves. City leaders did not account for the possibility the state might take up to $75 million to help fill its budget gap. Sanders says that was a deliberate move.
“I don’t want to give the state the opportunity to say, 'Well they already figured all this is so now we can just cut it.' They’re going to have to see the painful choices that have to be made if they do decide to take something,” he says.
Recently, state lawmakers in both parties have been backing away from the idea of taking local money. Sanders says it’s a step in the right direction but says Sacramento is desperate for cash and may still look to local funds. He says he’ll work with the state if it’s just borrowing the money, but not if lawmakers don’t plan on paying it back.
