SAN DIEGO — San Diego City Council unanimously approved a proposal to place a one-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase which would increase the tax from the current 7.75% to 8.75% on the November 2024 ballot on Monday afternoon. If voters approve, it could bring $400 million per year to the city for neighborhood upgrades.
This will include fixing potholes, repairing streets, sidewalks and streetlights — as well as improving parks and libraries. It would also be used to update emergency response systems.
But getting voters to approve it might prove difficult.
While City Council reports say San Diego's total citywide sales tax rate is significantly lower than other jurisdictions in the state at 7.75%, San Diego is one of the most expensive cities to live in the United States.
Studies also show more than a third of San Diego County households struggle to make ends meet.
City officials say this sales tax increase is needed for a few reasons. In addition to the $9.25 million needed over the next five years to fix aging or decrepit infrastructure, the city also says the cost of doing business has increased in recent years.
"Since 2019, the per mile cost of asphalt overlay has increased 173% while the average slurry seal cost have risen by 107%," the city report reads.
The Monday vote by City Council follows a recent grand jury report that says city leaders need to prioritize sidewalk repair the way it has street repair.
According to the report, sidewalk repairs are estimated at $104 million over the next five years, with a funding gap of $88 million.
The report also finds underfunding sidewalk maintenance in the past has led to annual injury lawsuit payouts of nearly $2.5 million from 2015 to 2021.
According to the city, the one-cent tax measure would allow the city to "enhance the delivery of core neighborhood services while reversing its decades-long trend of underfunding important infrastructure assets that become even more expensive to repair over time."
Mayor Todd Gloria and City Councilmember Raul Campillo applauded the council's vote.
"The City Council made a courageous, bold move that has the potential to enhance the quality of life for every resident of our city. It is an opportunity to address the longstanding shortage of resources that for decades has held our city back and caused our infrastructure like streets and sidewalks and public assets like parks and police stations to fall into disrepair," Gloria and Campillo said in a joint statement.
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