If you’ve ever wondered where your tax dollars go — brace yourself. Right now, in San Diego County, we’re holding back critical projects and services, yet we’re spending $7 million a year so inmates in our jails can make unlimited free phone calls. And that’s just one example of how broken our priorities have become.
Every June, the county of San Diego adopts its annual budget — a document that reflects our priorities and determines how we serve you, the taxpayer. This year, however, the stakes are higher than ever.
We started this budget season with a projected $138 million operational deficit, based on needs and requests throughout county departments. That’s not just a number on paper — that’s a warning signal. It means we must make tough decisions about what truly matters, and more importantly, who we are putting first.
Over the past several years, the county’s bureaucracy has grown at an unsustainable rate. More than 2,500 new government positions have been added, and several new departments have been created — many of which have little to no connection to the essential services San Diegans rely on every day. When the economy tightens, families are forced to make hard financial decisions; government should do the same. It’s time to tighten our belts and stop spending on programs that don’t deliver for our residents.
I stand for fiscal responsibility, public safety, and ing our veterans and working families. I do not wasteful spending that puts politics ahead of people.
One of the most troubling proposals in the draft budget is $5 million in taxpayer dollars earmarked for the legal defense of unauthorized immigrants facing deportation — regardless of their criminal history. That’s unacceptable. San Diegans should not be footing the bill to defend individuals who broke the law to be here — especially at a time when critical services are being threatened with cuts.
What’s even more frustrating is where other funds are being allocated. Bureaucratic offices like the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice and the Office of Equity and Racial Justice have continued to expand, creating layers of government that do not contribute to safer neighborhoods, better roads or lower costs for working families. These offices may sound well-intentioned, but in practice, they too often serve as political vehicles.
Meanwhile, some of my colleagues have resorted to the same tired scare tactics — claiming the sky is falling and warning of federal budget cuts that haven’t even happened. They’re once again trotting out the boogeyman of Donald Trump, as if that justifies irresponsible spending. It’s a straw man argument, designed to distract from the real issue: Government already has enough money — certainly enough of your money.
What is lacking is the will to spend it wisely.
On the other hand, veterans services are being overlooked. San Diego County is home to more than 240,000 veterans — men and women who served our country with honor.
Public safety is also under threat. We cannot afford to shortchange law enforcement at a time when crime is rising and communities are demanding more, not less, protection.
Our law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day. They deserve full funding, not budget games.
The county is the only municipal government for those communities that are not in cities. More than 500,000 residents live in these unincorporated communities, representing the second largest population group in the county, behind the city of San Diego. The county’s budget funds construction, maintenance and operations of critical roads and infrastructure, parks, sheriff and fire stations. But the county has had to scale back its services and improvements to basic, critical infrastructure because of the unfocused overspending in the last several years.
It’s time to reign it in. We can’t keep asking taxpayers to do more while government refuses to do less. Every dollar we spend should be justified. Every new program should be measured by how it helps San Diegans live safer, healthier and more affordable lives.
I want to be clear: I am committed to ing a balanced budget, but it must be a budget that puts you — the taxpayer — first. Not politics. Not ideology. Not special interest agendas.
Let’s get back to basics. Let’s fund what works. Let’s put San Diegans first.
Desmond is a Republican who represents District 5 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He lives in Oceanside.
