The county of San Diego’s finances are at a tipping point, and the county is facing a severe budget deficit of $138 million this year, projected to grow to $321 million within five years.
A stark contrast between myself and my opponent for District 1 county supervisor is my strong knowledge of finances and ability to balance a budget.
My opponent is on record in of raiding the county’s reserves to address these deficits. I believe reserves should be for true emergencies like wildfires, natural disasters or severe economic downturns.
County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer’s $1 billion new tax proposal would create new agencies intended to regulate and harass small businesses in the county. She’s also proposing a government-owned bank to fund special interest projects.
Let me be clear: I oppose Lawson-Remer’s plan for $1 billion in new taxes that will directly increase the cost of living and cost of housing on our hardworking middle class and seniors. Burdening San Diego County residents with $1 billion in new taxes is extremely harmful.
The politicians on the Board of Supervisors are determined to raise our cost of living. Perhaps the worst proposal by Lawson-Remer is her demand that the county impose a tax on the sale of some high-end homes. This is the most reckless and outrageous aspect of big spending in county government. We live in one of the most expensive housing markets in America where low- and middle-income, working families are priced out of the housing market and are unable to build the kind of intergenerational wealth that older generations were able to achieve.
Chula Vista is my hometown, and, as the son of a single mother who worked at the Rohr factory to us, I know the burden that falls on working people when politicians raise taxes. Increasing the cost of homes in San Diego County is a direct insult to the many families cutting costs and saving every day to get a piece of the American dream and buy their own home.
The county is overspending, plain and simple. As mayor of Chula Vista, I’m proud to say we have a balanced budget and always put taxpayers first. We’ve fully funded our public safety departments and excel in services for our residents.
We have maintained our infrastructure, ensuring that city residents receive tangible, basic benefits. During the 2024 “rainstorm of the century,” while other cities were flooding, Chula Vista had no similar problems. Our Public Works crews labored over the years, proactively clearing storm drains, helping residents address vulnerabilities on their properties.
As mayor, I believe we should always invest in public safety. As supervisor, I will make that my priority.
Chula Vista is one of the safest cities in California, confirming that our police department leadership is committed to serious, aggressive and fair law-enforcement. In my time as mayor and council member, we hired hundreds of new police officers and firefighters. They are patrolling neighborhoods, keeping us all safer.
Earlier this year, the Chula Vista fire department battled a massive fire on Otay Mountain. But no lives or structures were lost due to the fantastic work of our firefighters and their teammates from Cal Fire.
The Sheriff’s Department must be fully funded, and the sheriff must be provided with the necessary tools to attract and retain the best personnel to patrol our streets.
It is also essential that the county work with the EPA to clean up the Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution. I was among those who encouraged EPA Lee Zeldin to come here last month to view the sewage crisis personally. It is outrageous that this catastrophe has dragged on for decades, damaging the health of children and seniors, and affecting the readiness of military service in South County. As a Navy veteran, I value our service and their health. Mexico must do its part and stop polluting our neighborhoods.
Finding wasteful programs in the county budget is easy in a budget with $8.5 billion in spending. An immediate place to start is the $7.5 million program that provides free telephone calls for jailed inmates. Why prioritize a perk for criminals over the needs of law-abiding residents?
As supervisor for South County, I will represent all residents and work to ensure the unique needs of each neighborhood are addressed based on community input, while ensuring the county government is living within its means. Engaging in a reckless tax-and-spend spree only raises the cost of living for hardworking families and is completely unacceptable.
McCann, the Chula Vista mayor, is a candidate for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
