Supervisors to Travel to Austria on Taxpayer's Dime
- Media
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
The Board of Supervisors recently approved for taxpayers to pay for a six-day trip to Austria for two Supervisors. To the tune of over $40,000.
Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and Supervisor Joel Anderson will be traveling to the European county to get a first-hand look at their "renowned" model of government subsidized housing. Austria doesn't have cameras, telephones, FaceTime, fax machines, Zoom or emails?
"Austria is famous for its castles, palaces and buildings, among other architectural works. Some of Austria's most famous castles include Festung Hohensalzburg, Burg Hohenwerfen, Castle Liechtenstein, and the Schloß Artstetten." —Google
Austria has many notable architectural sites.
But these two Supervisors will spend almost a week looking at government subsidized housing? Do castles fall under the category of subsidized housing?
Ms. Steppe and Mr. Anderson will each be provided with $7,800 for the cost of the program (including lodging, most meals and transportation). The two will each receive another $12,200 for travel budget with an additional $15,600 to be paid to the Program Organizer out of County funds (your pocket).
"2 supervisors to go on Austria junket" was written by Lucas Robinson and appeared in yesterday's San Diego Union-Tribune.
"Board policy requires it to sign off on international travel for its members, and supervisors backed the trip without extensive discussion on Tuesday . . . The board’s endorsement of the trip comes as the county inked a cost-cutting budget on Tuesday that slashes some spending and cuts dozens of vacant county jobs." —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune
Of the four Supervisors present at the Board meeting (District 1 still has an open seat), only Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond had anything to say about the trip.
“I don’t think supervisors need to travel to Vienna to study housing,” Desmond said, adding it was already known that California had to curb regulations to encourage more housing development.
Question: Since Ms. Steppe and Mr. Anderson would directly benefit from these funds, shouldn't they have to recuse themselves? Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer would most likely be a yes vote and Supervisor Jim Desmond would probably be a no vote. Final vote: 1-1, a tie. So how did this get approved?
The article mentions that it is unclear if the Supervisor staffs will be in tow but if so, the $12,200 would cover them. I believe that might be stretching it a bit and very difficult to do.
When I read this article, a memory flashed into my head. I lived in Arizona in the 1980s and the "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley owned a house near the top of Camelback Mountain. She never arrived with fewer than 40 tag-a-longs in her entourage.
"We don't pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes." — Leonna Helmsley
It makes me wonder how many members of Ms. Steppe's and Mr. Anderson's entourage will be present. Do you think that they will be bringing their families also? After all, it is a six-day expedition.
EXCELLENT write up! Information we need!