Optimism abounds in Escondido from sales tax

The passage of the city’s one-cent sales tax will allow the city to usher in a new era of success as the city can tackle its budget deficit, address staffing, infrastructure and more

Optimism and excitement fill the air in Escondido after the passage of a one-cent sales tax in November. Steve Puterski photo

ESCONDIDO — There’s a newfound optimism in the city after voters approved a one-cent sales tax increase in November.

The tax will be levied for 20 years, and the city estimates about $28 million per year in revenue. City leaders and organizations such as the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and Escondido Downtown Business Association rallied to push the tax to address the city’s massive budget deficit.

While optimism is percolating, Mayor Dane White and other city council members stressed the need for patience. The city must go through several steps before any projects can begin. Those steps include appointing a Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor tax revenue, public outreach, council priorities for projects, and the collection of the money before executing the city’s plan.

“We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over,” White said. “Everybody keeps saying they feel the city is on the verge of something good. Money is a big part of that, but I think there are so many things that are already happening like Round 1 and the Grand (Avenue) construction.”

Short-term plans

White said his top priorities are to stabilize the budget and address city staff shortages before hitting the ground with capital improvement or other projects. The city’s financial situation is dire as it is projecting a $10 million annual deficit for each of the next five years.

Not only can the city stabilize but thrive with a budget flush with cash and full staffing so projects and city services can return to levels residents are entitled, White said.

He targeted previous city councils with a lack of vision and did not prioritize the city’s needs over personal pet projects and others, leading to a budget deficit and the city scraping by for years.