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Supervisors to send revenue protection measure to voters

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has a policy to use one-time revenues for one-time projects rather than for ongoing programs. A proposed amendment to the county's charter will allow the county's voters to confirm the current county supervisors' philosophy.

A 5-0 Board of Supervisors vote June 26 directed the county's chief administrative officer to return to the board within 30 days with proposed language for a ballot measure which would include provisions that proceeds from any long-term general fund obligation shall not be used to finance current operations or recurring needs and that funds appropriated for pension stabilization shall not be used for any purpose other than pension-related liabilities.

"Before the board today are two critical pieces that should go before the voters and give the voters a say," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. "The item before us will give voters a say whether or not these sound practices continue into the future."

Jacob has been a Board of Supervisors member since 1993. Greg Cox, Ron Roberts, and Bill Horn joined the Board of Supervisors in 1995. Kristin Gaspar, who took office in 2017, is the only Board of Supervisors member who did not have to address the county's financial crisis of the early 1990s. County officials had been discussing a declaration of bankruptcy in the early 1990s, but the County of San Diego now has a AAA credit rating.

"This Board of Supervisors changed the culture of county government, and it wasn't easy," Jacob said.

The Board of Supervisors adopted an informal policy of using one-time revenues for one-time expenses. Over the past 25 years the county supervisors have also taken action to address pension obligation liabilities.

"We need to codify these practices," Jacob said.

When a draft ballot measure is brought before the Board of Supervisors, the action will likely include placing the measure on the November 6 ballot and the Board of Supervisors agenda item may also authorize Board of Supervisors members to sign the ballot argument in favor of the measure.

"This is a way for us to protect at least a few of our good government practices," Jacob said.

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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