Mayor Jerry Sanders signed next year’s $2.3 billion budget into law on the corner of Nimitz Boulevard and Capistrano Street June 7 as street repair crews looked on. The bumpy Point Loma thoroughfare proved ideal for the official gesture, highlighting the need for and allocation of future deferred maintenance funds.
“I decided to sign the fiscal year 2007 budget on a typical street in our city because I wanted San Diegans to see that their city is working for them,” Sanders said.
District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer, fresh off his reelection the night before, accompanied Sanders and other city officials to announce the $13 million allotted for repairs to more than 100 miles of roads throughout San Diego, up from $2.2 million and 24.5 miles during fiscal year 2006.
“As we put the campaign behind us last night, this is just a great way to start the road ahead “” literally and figuratively “” in getting back to basic infrastructure in our neighborhoods,” Faulconer said.
Street overlay, or complete asphalt repaving, comprises 21 miles and $8.2 million of the total promised. The remaining $4.7 million will be spent on slurry seal to reduce cracks and minor irregularities on 79.5 miles of streets. The city will also fill approximately 35,000 potholes at an added cost of $1 million.
The dramatic increase in funding comes from two sources: An extra $6.8 million was budgeted from the city’s coffers and $4 million is expected from the state in past-due Proposition 42 payments.
According to Public Works Director Richard Haas, the lump sum has not yet been divvied up among districts.
“We’re going to have to sit down and distribute the money where the greatest need is in terms of condition assessment of the streets,” Haas said.

District 2 beach communities are sure to receive their due share of the funding, as their streets are in some of the worst conditions ever, Faulconer said
Since taking office in January, the councilman has successfully pushed for repairs to the most decrepit locations, including Nimitz and West Point Loma boulevards in Point Loma, Cass Street and Pacific Beach Drive in Pacific Beach, and Bacon and Voltaire streets in Ocean Beach. All work to date was squeezed from this year’s budget, as the 2007 funds remain frozen until July 1.

While the 2007 budget exercise proved harmonious for both council and mayor “” the two sides admittedly disagreed on only 24 of 7,000 line items “” Sanders said 2008 promises to be more difficult as revenue growth flattens and financial flexibility wanes.
In anticipation of the struggles ahead, Sanders announced he would eliminate 500 jobs, introduce a new pension system and implement efficacy reform among the city’s departments, processes and functions. And in November, residents will vote on Sanders’ managed competition ballot measure to decide whether the private sector should be allowed to challenge city employees for their jobs.
But the mayor’s cautionary statements failed to puncture the morning’s prevailing optimism.
“If there is one thing that we’ve proven in the six months that we’ve been in office together is that we can work effectively together as a team and that great things can come from these joint efforts,” Sanders said.
Toni Atkins, councilwoman and chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, agreed that the final goal was met and said no further service cuts were required.
“Everyone in every program in the city is tightening their belt, but the budget is balanced.”