Updated at 5:15 p.m.
City Council President Myrtle Cole Monday scheduled a vote for Tuesday to attempt to override San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s action last week to restore $5 million in special election funding to the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The mayor included the money in his original budget proposal, with the possibility that two major items would go before voters this fall — his now- delayed plan to raise hotel room taxes to pay for expansion of the convention center, and fund homeless programs and road repairs; and the initiative to place the proposed “Soccer City” redevelopment of the Qualcomm Stadium property in Mission Valley.
The City Council, opposed to holding votes on the two questions this year, redirected the $5 million into other areas. Faulconer subsequently restored the special election funding, which he has the power to do, and lowered the office budgets of Councilwoman Barbara Bry and Councilman Chris Ward.
With Monday’s decision by the council rejecting the idea of holding a special election in the first place, the impact of the panel’s override vote will be less on funding a public vote and more on where the $5 million will end up.
While the mayor’s supporters on the council had enough votes to prevent an override, it remains unclear what they will do now that the special election is out of the picture.
—City News Service