Fixing, Building San Diego Facilities: Potential $10B Bottom Line Estimated

We now have a fair idea what the phrases “deferred maintenance” and “crumbling infrastructure” add up to when it comes to San Diego’s “public works” needs.

According to a report by Andrea Tevlin, the city’s independent budget analyst, the potential price tag for things that need to be fixed or built – “capital improvements” – could reach $10 billion.

They range from storm drains to ancient water and sewer mains that keep breaking, especially in older neighborhoods, from sketchy streets and sidewalks to substandard bridges that federal agencies say are safety hazards.

This is not to mention parks, libraries, affordable housing -- and 19 new fire stations that consultants say are absolute necessities to shorten response times.

San Diego’s Fire-Rescue Department has prioritized four that would cost $46 million.

Critics accuse San Diego of doing too little, too late, with not enough financial resources since the “Enron by the Sea” pension-debt scandal that got the city red-lined from Wall Street’s bond market for several years.

No matter what funding sources may be found “going forward”, even if the money is distributed equally among council districts, south-of-Instate 8 communities such as City Heights already are on such a tilted playing field when it comes to "infrastructure" that they never catch up.

Inner-city folks who spoke with NBC 7 Monday see a lot of pain coming to their pocketbooks for the city to cover the 11-figure projected costs.

"That's a lot of money, and I doubt they will,” said City Heights resident Kellie Burris. “Or they're going to starting raising up everything on people that can't afford it. This is like a low-income area, but still we deserve to have other things."

To bankroll infrastructure upgrades and required affordable housing, city officials are looking at raising taxes and fees and adding three new fee categories -- along with special bonds requiring two-thirds voter approval, and financing districts that could generate spending by way of loans.

"I think we've borrowed enough,” said Monique Fernandes, as she and her daughter enjoyed a morning outing in City Heights’ spacious Teralta Park. “I think we need to start raising money without borrowing any more. Because we owe as it is."

As for the disparities between infrastructure and facilities in City Heights versus those in northern-tier city neighborhoods, Oscar Jenks was troubled: "Seems like they fix everything right over there, but here they do it ‘Mickey Mouse.' They do it and just go. They need to focus and get it right. We're not asking much, you know? Just treat us the same as everybody else."

Added Al Rasuwl: "They should take care of the older neighborhoods first -- because there's a lot of senior citizens, there's a lot of special needs children there.”

The budget report doesn't address the issue of building a new stadium, but it notes that deferred maintenance at Qualcomm Stadium is $80 million.

At the Convention Center, the backlog is estimated at $31 million.

Expanding the place will cost half a billion dollars in front-money.

Plus interest.
 

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