San Diego Sharpens Its Ax

San Diego, the state’s second-largest city, will have to cut $43 million from its $1.2 billion general fund budget to deal with a painful slowdown in economic growth, Mayor Jerry Sanders said in a speech last week.

“These are uncharted waters, and I don’t pretend to know where the economy is heading,” Sanders said in a speech to the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. “We almost certainly will need to curtail programs and close facilities that enjoy broad public support.”

Chief operating officer Jay Goldstone will outline a specific proposal to the City Council on Nov. 12. He told the council that the city is suffering from drops in property, sales, and hotel room taxes.

Sanders said he has ordered department heads to look for ways to cut their budgets by 10%.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER