The debate over San Diego’s Proposition D is getting feisty in the run-up to Election Day. Two of the leading voices on the issue clashed in a forum Tuesday.
San Diego’s Proposition D would raise the city’s sales tax by half a cent for five years. It also contains a series of financial reforms the city must make before the tax can be enacted.
At a recent Proposition D debate, tax increase opponent Councilman Carl DeMaio said the city can save money through pension reforms and doesn't need to increase the sales tax. But tax supporter Mayor Jerry Sanders disputed that idea.
"I actually have to provide services. I can’t live in Fantasy Land," said Sanders. "I can’t say get rid of pensions and think it’s going to automatically going to happen. The last city attorney tried for four years, as I said before, and went down in flames on all of it."
Sanders said if the sales tax fails the city will have to make drastic cuts to services, including the fire and police departments. Councilman DeMaio struck back at the mayor’s comment.
"Fantasy Land is writing a ballot measure and putting it up for a public vote without providing any public guarantees. Fantasy Land is entrusting the majority on this city council, given their track record, to keep their word after Mayor Sanders is out of office, which they won’t,' he said.
DeMaio and other critics say the ten reforms linked to Proposition D are too vague and don’t ensure financial changes will be made.
Supporters of the tax say the city’s already made substantial reforms and needs revenue from the tax increase to help permanently fix San Diego’s budget problems.
