Congratulations to the staff, the City Council, and the City Manager in getting a balanced budget worked out and approved last week. This is a big deal given all that has transpired over the last year.
It’s going to take just shy of $126 million dollars to run Escondido in the new fiscal year beginning Friday, July 1st. The budgeting process has been in the works for weeks and months as City staff compiled all the numbers it takes to keep this City moving forward and project the costs associated with running a city like ours. The task was to project revenue’s generated by the city for our new fiscal and subtract the cost it takes to generate the funds and voila you have a budget.
Retail sales tax generation is a large component of revenue generation needed to keep the lights on. That means shopping local, buying local is more important than ever. Every dollar spent on local purchases generates retails sales tax. Our current sales tax is at 7.75% which is tied as the lowest of any city in San Diego County. Escondido doesn’t receive all of the 7.75 % percent, but it is a critical source of revenue generation contributing to our overall City budget.
Much of the budget is beyond each taxpayer’s control. That’s where we have the power to elect representatives who are our voice when it comes to guiding the direction we’d like to see our City move and our tax dollars directed.
Most everything costs more, that’s a fact. Every dollar earned is fractionally reduced as costs continue to rise. Simple enough, right? The problem is we’re losing ground as costs rise, taxes increase, new fees are imposed, etc., etc... It’s called inflation and its gob smacked us like an Ali right upper cut.
Shopping local is one of the things we can do to directly impact the revenue needed to operate the city. Each time you fill up the gas tank, pick up a sandwich or grocery shop in Escondido you’re helping. Support local business, buying local is what we ask of you.
Want more streets paved, potholes filled, trash collected, new schools and parks maintained? Buy local. Escondido is not a small town and it’s not a big City. Escondido is the place we choose to live, work and play.
A few ramblings:
-Thank you to State Senator Brian Jones for holding a Town Hall here at the Chamber last Saturday. This was the Senator’s first in person Town Hall since the shutdown and it was held to a standing room only audience.
-A new Costco coming to Escondido is a welcome addition, congratulations to Westfield North County.
-Congratulations to Neighborhood Healthcare on the official opening of there latest healthcare facility here in Escondido.
-Chief Varso, thank you for your service to Escondido. You will be missed.
Cheers, JR
