SAN DIEGO — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria urged the city council to pass his proposed fiscal year 2025 budget Wednesday, telling reporters it includes important funding for road repair and stormwater infrastructure.
The mayor held a news conference in Emerald Hills as transportation crews worked to repair a section of road near Roswell and Winston.
The mayor is proposing $88 million for flood control projects as well as pipeline replacements and pump station repairs. He said the city also has $733 million in federal EPA funding.
A city report issued earlier this year found that stormwater needs are more than $2 billion over the next five years.
"We are doing all that we can to try and invest and upgrade our infrastructure in these historically underserved communities," said Mayor Gloria. "These are neighborhoods that are in excess of 100 years old and still being serviced by 100-year-old infrastructure. We need to upgrade and improve them," he told CBS 8.
Mayor Gloria wants voters to pass a one percent sales tax increase to help pay for stormwater infrastructure. There is also a parcel tax initiative in the works, that if passed, would be dedicated funding just for stormwater infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the city faces a $100 million lawsuit filed by nearly 300 flood victims.
The budget committee will take on the mayor's budget proposal Friday. The full council votes on it Tuesday.
Watch Related: Mayor Gloria urges council to pass proposed budget, which includes $88 million for stormwater infrastructure (Jun 5, 2024)