San Diego's oldest and most respected government watchdog and taxpayer advocacy group
San Diego
Joined August 2009
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SD Taxpayers retweeted
As promised, the Trump EPA just released its latest quarterly update with regards to permanently ENDING the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis. Following last year’s agreement reached between the US and Mexico, vital progress continues to get made on projects to urgently implement the 100% solution, including phase 2 of River Gates now under construction, completion of the Parallel Gravity Line, and much more. All agreed to projects are scheduled to be completed in 2026 and 2027, with one project scheduled for completion in 2028. Here is a link to the announcement of the entire quarterly update for September 2026: epa.gov/newsreleases/trump-e…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Interesting post and UT story, considering the SANDAG Transportation Committee just gave the thumbs-up for the agency to pursue options for automated people movers to the airport.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
“'Over the last 30 plus years, we have been developing and investing in new and alternative water supplies and rights for the San Diego region,' said Jeremy Crutchfield, the water resources manager for #SanDiego County Water Authority."
timesofsandiego.com/politics…
A few observations on the success of success of San Diego's long-term investment in water infrastructure and supply:
1. Local officials were able to make substantial investments in supply projects in part because Prop 218 prevented politicians from siphoning revenue from water bills to fund lower priority programs (such as hiring middle managers to staff make-work bureaucracies).
2. There is still more work to be done (replacing Lake Hodges Dam and completing future supply projects on time and on budget). Eliminating Project Labor Agreements would make completing these projects less expensive and keep water rates down.
3. Given that the (privately built) Carlsbad desal plant is operational and Pure Water Phase 1 is still behind schedule and over budget regional water agencies need to conduct thorough cost-benefit analyses of any new water supply projects.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
#SanDiego County Assessor Jordan Marks "has plans for the county to undertake a $57 million replacement of the legacy computer system used in his office
"Last month, the Board of Supervisors unanimously backed Marks’ plan to finance the replacement with about $57 million in bonds."
sandiegouniontribune.com/202…
The action by the Board of Supervisors to approve a new property assessment system is online (Item 11).
sandiegocounty.gov/content/d…
sdcounty.legistar.com/View.a…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
The city of #SanDiego Independent Budget Analyst will present the Key Dates for FY 2028 Budget Development at the September 23 Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Meeting.
Despite ongoing operating budget deficits and increasing pension and infrastructure and pension funding gaps, it looks like the milestones of the FY 2028 budget process will not be significantly different from those of prior years.
The council seems to be intent on repeating a process that has failed to significantly reform a city budget characterized by steadily increasing revenue and ongoing community service reductions.
Every year, the operating budget gaps are filled by cutting back community services while counterproductive revenue measures (such as flawed tax increases) are introduced and inevitably fail.
sandiego.gov/sites/default/f…
In contrast, #NationalCity is moving forward with a broad financial sustainability plan supported by a multi-year AI-driven priority based budgeting tool.
sandiegouniontribune.com/202…
The San Diego mayor and council can learn from its smaller neighbor and initiate a rigorous and thorough process to make substantive changes to the budget process.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
In honor of Labor Day, we’re proud to introduce Live Work Alliance.
California needs more attainable housing and the skilled workforce to build it. We’re working to strengthen both.
Learn more at LiveWorkAlliance.org
#LaborDay #SkilledTrades #Housing
SD Taxpayers retweeted
City Audit Prompts Review of Barnes Tennis Center Lease; Intense criticism voiced at City Council Committee Hearing– OB Rag obrag.org/2026/09/city-audit…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Like paid parking in Balboa Park, the negative PR for the City on closing these restrooms can’t possibly be worth the $500k savings (only .02% of the GF budget). City leaders may think that inflicting this type of pain will make it easier to raise taxes in 2 years, but the level of distrust this move engenders will only make it harder to persuade voters to send additional money to City Hall
"Nearly half the bathrooms are closed at #MissionBay Park. The closure was prompted by a funding cut to balance the city budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. But now, city leadership have reached a disagreement on whether surplus funds should be used to reopen the restrooms.
"A cut ballot measure freed $1.8 million in the city budget. District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo proposed allocating some of the funds to pay for maintenance of the bathrooms. He said it would cost $540,000 to reopen and maintain them.
"But Mayor Todd Gloria rejected the proposal."
kpbs.org/news/quality-of-lif…
The SF Gate has called attention to the health risks of not having sufficient public restrooms.
“The city of #SanDiego has previously seen major repercussions for not having enough public restrooms. In 2017 and 2018, 582 people were infected during an outbreak of hepatitis A, and 20 people were killed, according to Voice of San Diego. And in 2021, KNSD-TV reported that the city spent $1 million annually to clean needles and human feces across the city.”
sfgate.com/travel/article/sa…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
💯 And SD Taxpayers will help sort through it all
Looks like San Diegans will have no lack of bond and tax proposals to weigh in on this November 👀
voiceofsandiego.org/2026/07/…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
"Council Member Sean Elo-Rivera owes me — and everyone whose views he disagrees with — an apology, and a promise to open his doors to all San Diego residents, and especially his District 9 constituents."
obrag.org/2026/07/my-san-die…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Thanks Union-Tribune editors for this powerful call for government transparency, and for highlighting the regrettable efforts of our local officials to hide public documents and information. Please share this editorial with you elected officials, fellow activists, and taxpayers.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
San Diego Let Its Infrastructure Crumble. Now Taxpayers Are Paying $49 Million in Lawsuits to Cover It.
Payouts nearly doubled in eight years. Insurance premiums nearly quadrupled to $35 million. The city hasn't even assessed its own buildings since 2016 and has a $7.8 billion infrastructure deficit it cannot pay for. Every dollar spent settling lawsuits over broken sidewalks and decaying sewer pipes is a dollar that should have gone to fixing the problem in the first place. This is what happens when you defer maintenance for years and call it a budget strategy. #FixCalifornia
sandiegouniontribune.com/202…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
A dude wrote an entire book about sidewalks, another dude reviewed it, and I am 💯 here for both #RebuildSD
SD Taxpayers retweeted
The city government politicians who can’t run parking at Balboa Park are going to generate and transmit power better than the energy companies that have 100 years of expertise and experience in this.
Sure they are.
#SanDiego is conducting a “multi-phased feasibility study to evaluate the processes, costs, risks, and opportunities associated with establishing a public agency to take on electricity delivery infrastructure assets of San Diego Gas & Electric”.
Basically, buying out SDG&E and operating it as a city department or similar public agency.
That this is even under consideration strains credibility, given that the city cannot even properly maintain the infrastructure it is already responsible for. The sewer system is being funded at the minimum level needed to prevent spills, there is $7 billion storm drain funding gap, and the city does not have the competence to replace Lake Hodges Dam (which was built over a century ago).
As former city manager Jack McGrory asked, “Do you actually trust the City Council of this city to take over the electric grid?”
The city has higher priorities than spending time and money on an ill-fated effort to borrow $ billions in public funds for a literal power grab.
voiceofsandiego.org/2025/10/…
sandiego.hylandcloud.com/211…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Definitely agree with the mayor on this one. Cutting road repair in favor of bike lane design is not what the vast majority of San Diegans want to see
SD Taxpayers retweeted
For what it’s worth: my suggestions for how Mayor Gloria and our City Council can rebuild confidence in local government. 1/2 sandiegouniontribune.com/202…
SD Taxpayers retweeted
On Thursday, June 25, the Board of Supervisors takes its final vote on extending their own term limits from two to three. If it passes, it goes on the ballot. If we stop it now, it doesn't.
In 2010, 68% of San Diego County voters set the limit at two terms. That wasn't close. That was a landslide.
If these Supervisors believed in this, they would have exempted themselves and applied the new rule to future Boards only. Not one of them was willing to do that.
That tells you everything.
Show up Thursday, June 25 at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Center. Public comment is your right. Use it.
Contact the Board. Tell your friends, your family, your neighbors.
This isn't reform. It's self-dealing. And we have one more chance to stop it.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Every week the City of SD devises new and exciting ways to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
It is supremely disappointing to see this common sense sidewalk repair program end, so City leaders need to explain:
[1] how the permit for a basic project like residential sidewalk repair can cost $2,200. Even at a very generous $100/hr., does anyone think this basic review process takes 22 hours?
[2] how 3 full-time city workers for that same low-level review process can possibly cost $450,000 a year.
Keep in mind those 3 City workers don't actually do the repairs. They look at some papers and photos to approve the repairs. Maybe they'll come out for an in-person look after the repairs are done, but nothing they're doing costs $2,200 nor takes 3 people each making $150k a year.
SD Taxpayers retweeted
Note to @SDCityCouncil and @TimesofSanDiego: Whether paid for by the city or SANDAG, these unused bike lanes -- including the $14M Pershing Bikeway -- are paid for by taxpayers. The inference that SANDAG money is free money is misleading and disingenuous. timesofsandiego.com/transpor…
