Public safety set for big boost in San Diego County’s $8.62 billion budget proposal

County residents safety programs are set to receive the biggest increase in the - draft budget Here firefighters battle one in a series of North County fires in File photo courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff s Office San Diego County disclosed its recommended budget for - on Thursday proposing a spending increase of million over the previous year despite ongoing funding issues The billion budget proposal would offer the largest increase to populace safety departments million while cutting spending for capital programs such as improvements to roads and bridges by about The overall budget increase a boost of about was suggested in the face of slowing tax revenues and rising costs along with uncertainties about the business activity and state and federal funding As it stands the budget would cut positions a little less than of the county s -plus employees Chosen of the positions as of now are vacant About million of the increased Masses Safety budget could go towards the purchase of a helicopter for expanded firefighting and search-and-rescue missions Other highlights of the plan include an funding of more than million for behavioral healthcare services funding for more than million San Diegans who rely on programs such as CalWORKs Medi-Cal and CalFresh and an increase for inmate care and jail diversion programs Crystal Irving president of the Utility Employees International Union Local explained county leadership demands to dig into reserves as cuts from the White House and Sacramento loom County workers on the frontlines are calling upon the Board of Supervisors to take action and tap into our rainy day fund our reserves so we can protect and strategically invest in services at this critical moment Irving commented The current year s budget is billion The county informed late last year that it faced a projected million deficit in the coming year San Diego County doesn t have a revenue concern it has a spending matter Now there s talk of dipping into our County reserves to cover a deficit Why Because establishment has exploded adding jobs and creating bloated departments like the Office of Sustainability and Supervisor Jim Desmond jim desmond April The proposed budget has been met with a chilly response from a Republican member of the board Jim Desmond though the panel is officially nonpartisan The board is split between two Democrats and two Republicans due to the departure of Nora Vargas San Diego County doesn t have a revenue dilemma it has a spending predicament Desmond wrote in a social media post in advance of the budget proposal s release That divide on the board won t be resolved until the special electoral contest in July to replace Vargas a Democrat who was re-elected last fall but chose not to take the oath of office in January The county however is set to adopt the budget before the new fiscal year begins July Nearly half of the county s funding comes from the state and federal administration but that money must be used for certain programs The rest comes from property taxes fees for services and other sources Regionally county administration provides funding for social services and robustness programs criminal prosecution detention facilities and exigency preparedness food and restaurant inspections beach and bay water monitoring and elections In unincorporated areas the county cabinet provides things a city cabinet would typically offer like law enforcement and fire protection maintaining roads parks and libraries issuing building permits and overseeing animal shelters and protection Residents may weigh in on the budget proposal An in-person open house to discuss the budget is scheduled for p m May at the County Operations Center A virtual open house will take place at p m May Budget hearings before the county Board of Supervisors are set for a m June and p m June The board s budget deliberations and adoption are scheduled for June City News System contributed to this review