Author: Richard Rider

Recently local media has been reporting frightening, one-sided stories about San Diego County’s $78 million county budget shortfall, and the dire consequences we face.

For instance, a SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE article warned that this deficit “could force dramatic cuts in programs aimed at children and low-income families.” The next day, the U-T reported that this reduction “could force cuts in public safety . . . .”

The NORTH COUNTY TIMES reports that “The shortfall could lead to cuts in jobs and programs that serve the poor, children and senior citizens, officials said.” TV stories parroted the same lines, fed to them by county officials.

$78 million is indeed a lot of money. But compared to what? The total county budget is $5.2 billion. Do the math (no media story did). That’s a 1.5% drop in funding.

There’s been much speculation in the press about the sudden resignation of San Diego County Assessor Greg Smith. Theories abound.

But there’s no mystery why Assessor Smith is leaving and taking another job. The county pension plan drove Greg Smith out.

But not the way you’d think. Financially, he’d be a fool to stay. And Assessor Smith is no fool.

Greg is one of the sharpest, most responsive elected officials in the county. I’ve written a complimentary op-ed about him earlier this year, touting his efforts to ease the process of adjusting down one’s property taxes in a recession. I talked with Greg about his retirement, and he was quite open about his story.