How Candidates Plan to Solve San Diego’s Bonkers Infrastructure Backlog

It’s no secret the city of San Diego is short on cash – and the backlog to fix critical infrastructure keeps growing.

That backlog includes basic infrastructure like stormwater channels, roads, streetlights and more. According to an IBA analysis of the city’s capital outlook , the city needs $12.8 billion for infrastructure needs over the next five years.

But city officials have only identified $5 billion to fund the need, leaving a capital funding gap of $7.8 billion. Currently, stormwater needs make up 65 percent of that gap.

The City Council already had to make deep cuts to balance this year’s general fund budget . How they’ll tackle infrastructure funding – especially after public backlash over other revenue-generating measures like trash and parking fees — remains a key question for the city’s fiscal stability.

The makeup of the City Council could change with the upcoming elections, so I asked candidates what they would do to secure money for the city’s infrastructure backlog and whether they’d support any new taxes.