San Diego candidates propose grants and audits to address $7.8B infrastructure gap

San Diego is confronting a growing infrastructure backlog estimated at $7.8 billion, according to an analysis cited by Voice of San Diego. The city's total infrastructure needs over the next five years amount to $12.8 billion, but only $5 billion has been identified for funding, leaving a significant capital gap.

Stormwater infrastructure accounts for 65 percent of the funding shortfall, with other critical needs including roads and streetlights. The City Council has already made deep cuts to balance the current general fund budget, raising concerns about how future infrastructure projects will be financed.

Several candidates for San Diego City Council have proposed seeking state and federal grants to help bridge the funding gap. Others have suggested conducting independent audits of the city’s budget and contracts to better understand and optimize current spending.

One candidate emphasized the need to use existing tax revenues more efficiently rather than increasing taxes. Former Republican Richard Bailey, running in District 2, stated he opposes new taxes or fees and highlighted that the city recently achieved record tax revenue. However, he did not specify how spending efficiencies would be realized.

Bailey's opponent, Nicole Crosby, supports tapping into state and federal funds to address the backlog, a strategy Bailey reportedly criticizes. The upcoming election could influence how San Diego approaches its infrastructure funding challenges moving forward.