Re “City won’t turn off its ‘tap’ on taxpayers unless it’s forced to” (Oct. 31): In spring 2023, San Diego’s two largest municipal labor unions touted historic 21% general salary increases over three years approved by the mayor and City Council. It’s clear now that funding for these significant increases (and their subsequent pension fund impacts) was not provided for in future city budgets.
Now residents are being hit with higher sewage and water rates and new fees for trash collection, parking at Balboa Park and perhaps even beach parking. We can also expect a repeat of the ballot measure seeking to increase the sales tax by one cent from labor unions in 2026 and perhaps another attempt to enact the so-called stormwater tax.
Who is being served here? With a projected $110 million fiscal 2027 deficit and a minimum $538 million deficit through fiscal 2031, it’s time for the city and unions to revisit their 2023 agreements before further burdening residents with even more taxes and fees.
— Kevin Casey, Mission Hills