In a stark illustration of the growing rift between San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the City Council, tensions surrounding the city’s budget have escalated to unprecedented levels.
Eight years ago, Faulconer demonstrated an often-overlooked power granted to him under the strong mayor form of government by reintroducing $5 million into the city budget, which the Council had initially cut from his proposed special election on Mission Valley’s future.
This move highlighted the mayor’s authority not only to veto specific budget items but also to add items at will, a provision that few in the city had previously recognized.
As the current budget season unfolds, it appears that the fallout from this power dynamic could reach a climax not witnessed in two decades of the strong mayor governance structure.
Traditionally, the City Council has made minor adjustments to the budget with some degree of cooperation; however, the current year has seen a marked deterioration in relationships.
With stark disagreements over budget priorities and a noticeable lack of collaboration, city staff members report a growing contempt between the Council and the mayor’s office.
Amid these tensions, Councilmember Henry Foster openly questioned the efficacy of the strong mayor system, suggesting it might be time to reconsider the mayor’s place on the Council.
He remarked, “I think the public also needs to look at the strong mayor form of government because I’m not sure if it actually works in our favor,” during a budget hearing where the mayor revealed the necessity to draw $10.1 million from reserves to balance the budget before the fiscal year concludes next month.
Despite the significant economic impact of the pandemic, the city had previously managed to avoid depleting its reserves to this extent, as pointed out by Councilmember Vivian Moreno.
Disputes are primarily centered around the restoration of park and library hours that the mayor has proposed cutting.
To address these concerns, the Council is aiming to find funding solutions through eliminating upper management positions and accelerating plans for paid parking in Balboa Park and Mission Bay.
The ongoing critique of city management’s expansion has been most vocally championed by Michael Zucchet, general manager of the Municipal Employees Association, which represents the largest union of city workers.
Zucchet has highlighted an alarming trend of increased management positions, even amidst the mayor’s hiring freeze.
According to him, 28 unclassified positions, including program managers and coordinators, have been filled during this freeze, raising serious concerns about budget priorities.
In defense, the mayor has not denied the increase in managerial roles but instead asserted that such growth is necessary.
In a memo to the City Council, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Alia Khouri explained that the city’s expansion over the last 15 years warranted additional management positions to accommodate growth, modernization, and the development of new programs.
Khouri emphasized that the complexity and scale of city operations justify the presence of unclassified managers, making a case for even more managerial hiring.
The memo cited other cities, including San Jose and Los Angeles, to compare staffing structures, illustrating that San Diego’s proportion of unclassified employees is less than peer cities.
Councilmember Raul Campillo raised concerns over the imbalance of managerial versus frontline positions, noting, “The proportionality of frontline and public-facing workers losing their jobs compared to unclassified managers is out of whack.”
Given the deepening divisions, this year could herald a unique reaction from the City Council concerning the budget proposals put forth by the mayor.
Zucchet noted that historically, Council members have limited power over budget alterations, typically resulting in minor modifications.
However, he predicted that this could be the year significant changes might materialize, as more Council members are likely to propose substantial amendments to the mayor’s initial budget proposal.
As the City Council prepares to submit their proposals to the independent budget analyst, the dynamic between the mayor and the Council will continue to evolve.
The mayor will then present a final budget proposal, which may either incorporate the Council’s suggestions or disregard them altogether.
The ensuing developments from this point onward will be crucial, as the Council may pursue restoring funding to programs or cutting positions included in the mayor’s recommendations, setting the stage for a potential standoff.
In light of the growing animosity and strategic maneuvering, the coming weeks will be critical for both the Mayor’s office and the City Council as they navigate this contentious budget process.
image source from：https://www.kpbs.org/news/politics/2025/05/28/politics-report-a-strong-mayor-budget-showdown-like-never-before
