This spring, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors faces a pivotal decision: crafting and passing a budget that addresses a projected $138.5 million deficit crisis for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
This deficit crisis, detailed in a December snapshot from county staff, stems from rising costs for existing programs and new funding requests. It’s a daunting challenge — but one we can meet with honest compromise. Here’s why I’m pushing for a balanced approach.
In our unincorporated areas, where over 600,000 people live, the county is the backbone of daily life. We’re responsible for law enforcement, public safety, road maintenance, building permits, animal shelters, parks, libraries, and more — services that some cities even contract us to provide.
These aren’t optional extras; they’re the essentials our communities depend on to thrive. Closing this budget deficit isn’t just about numbers, it’s about keeping these services running for the people who need them most.
I’m ready to collaborate with my colleagues to get this done, but I won’t support kicking the can down the road. I saw that tactic fail far too often during my time in the state legislature, where mismanagement snowballed into a budget crisis California is still untangling. San Diego County can’t afford to do the same.
We need a budget that’s built on meaningful give-and-take — not short-term patches that will leave us worse off down the road. Our constituents cannot wait until August for a fifth supervisor and we cannot delay this vote. Delaying the passing of a budget negatively affects our credit rating with wide-ranging implications. We need to pass a balanced budget, on time, which is what our constituents expect and deserve.
Some might argue we can just trim here or borrow there, papering over the $138.5 million deficit without tough choices. But let’s be clear, that approach risks undermining the very services we’re here to protect. As I’ve said in our board meetings before, we’re all in the same boat, rowing in different directions because our districts and constituents have unique needs.
My priorities for East County might differ from those in other areas and that’s okay. However, we all agree on one thing: we don’t want the boat to sink and we all want to stay out of the water.
Compromise doesn’t mean that everyone gets everything they want — it means finding a way forward together. The escalating costs of our programs and the new funding requests on the table reflect real demands, from public safety and road repairs to community resources. Ignoring these basic and essential county services isn’t an option, but neither is pretending we can fund it all without trade-offs. My public service has taught me that leadership isn’t about digging in; it’s about finding common ground.
We don’t need a zero-sum game where one district’s win is another’s loss. We must pass a balanced budget that keeps San Diego County strong. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to make that happen before the budget deadline of June 30 — not just for my constituents, but for all of us.
Join me in urging the Board of Supervisors to row together toward a sustainable solution. Our county’s future depends on it.
Supervisor Joel Anderson has represented District 2 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 2020. The district in East County includes more than 600,000 residents with three cities, parts of the city of San Diego, 39 unincorporated communities, and 10 tribal governments.
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