The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and Sweetwater Union High School District are among the finalists, respectively, for recognition at the San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s annual Goldens dinner.

The airport was named a finalist for the positive award, the Golden Watchdog, for the expansion of Terminal 2 at Lindbergh Field, which was completed on time and on budget. The awards will be handed out June 19.

Passengers crowed baggage claim at Terminal 2. Photo courtesy San Diego International Airport.
Passengers crowed baggage claim at Terminal 2. Photo courtesy San Diego International Airport.

Other Golden Watchdog finalists, for providing benefits to taxpayers, are:

  • El Cajon, for its downtown business partnership;
  • Chula Vista, for its Bayfront Master Plan;
  • the San Diego County Library, for harnessing technology to save money; and
  • local cities, the county of San Diego and federal government for coordination during last month’s wildfires.

The Sweetwater Union High School District was one of the finalists for the Golden Fleece citation, which is given to public agencies for suspect behavior that causes taxpayers to suffer or their money to be wasted.

The troubled district serves Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, National City and southern San Diego and has seen several trustees removed from the board.

Other Golden Fleece finalists are:

  • the San Ysidro School District, for its own problems;
  • the North County Transit District, for mechanical problems that caused a shutdown of its Sprinter light rail line;
  • the Oceanside Unified School District, for a taxpayer-funded trip to Washington, D.C.; and
  • the city of San Diego, for uncollected wastewater fees.

The taxpayer’s association also hands out awards to reporters who uncover government waste. Finalists include:

  • he Carmel Valley News, for a story on taxpayer overcharging by the San Dieguito Union High School District;
  • — U-T San Diego, for their series highlighting the conditions in assisted living facilities in California and the disbanding of Balboa Park Centennial Inc.; and
  • Voice of San Diego, for their explanation of how BPCI’s plans for a celebration of the park’s 100th birthday went awry.
  • the staff of KPBS for reporting on women who accused ex-Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment;
  • 10 News, for stories on a trip Filner took to Paris, which ended up costing the city almost $22,000.
  • NBC7/39, for a report on the steep cost of water main breaks.

The dinner is set to take place at the Marriott Marquis and Marina in downtown San Diego.