It’s Budget Time — Let’s Keep San Diego County Fiscally Strong
- Media
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Right now, the County of San Diego is preparing to approve our new budget — and the decisions we make in the next few weeks will impact every family, senior, and business across our region.
As your County Supervisor, I believe this is a time for leadership, not recklessness.
Some of my colleagues are pushing to raid our emergency reserves to fund new government programs. That’s unacceptable. These reserves are meant for real emergencies — like natural disasters or economic downturns — not political wish lists.
I’m standing firm: we must protect your tax dollars and invest responsibly.
Thanks to strong fiscal management, we’ve already delivered results without raising taxes.
Here’s what the proposed FY 2025-2027 budget means for District 5:
Public Safety:
$14.3 million for a new firefighting and search-and-rescue helicopter
$3.5 million to expand fire/EMS in Pauma Valley and surrounding areas
New ambulances, 7 County fire stations, 5 Sheriff substations
Housing & Homelessness:
3 affordable housing projects (202 units) under construction
3 more planned (253 additional units)
$15 million for regional homeless assistance
$2.6 million for homeless encampment cleanup and outreach
Mental Health & Substance Use:
$24 million more for mental health care and stabilization services
$6.9 million for a new 16-bed crisis center for children
Ongoing support for Crisis Stabilization Units in Vista, Oceanside, and Escondido
Roads, Parks & Infrastructure:
$71.3 million to maintain 2,000 miles of County roads — including 690 miles in District 5
$48.3 million for road safety improvements (sidewalks, bike lanes, guardrails)
$35.9 million for parks and trails — including 46 facilities in our district
Support for Seniors & Working Families:
1.5 million meals for older adults through pickup, delivery, and community programs
As your County Supervisor, I believe this is a time for leadership, not recklessness.
Some of my colleagues are pushing to raid our emergency reserves to fund new government programs. That’s unacceptable. These reserves are meant for real emergencies — like natural disasters or economic downturns — not political wish lists.
These are real, tangible results — made possible by protecting taxpayer dollars and rejecting wasteful spending.
As we move to finalize the budget, I’ll keep fighting to preserve our reserves, keep government accountable, and ensure San Diego County remains a place where families can afford to live and thrive.
Thank you for the continued trust.
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond | June 23, 2025
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