The Morning Report
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The San Diego City Council approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Tuesday. But technically it still isn’t finalized.
While the council essentially has the final say on how the city spends its money beginning, Tuesday’s approval merely marked the beginning of a two-week window where Mayor Jerry Sanders can decide to veto the spending plan if he likes. The mayor was afforded that power under the strong-mayor form of governance, which began in January, but the veto would be largely ceremonial because the same five votes needed to pass the budget would be needed to override any veto as well.
But will Sanders take exception with the two dozen changes the council voted in to the budget?
No, said Fred Sainz, his spokesman.
Instead, the mayor will likely sign the budget into law at a press conference sometime next week, even though the budget would become effective July 1 without the signature. Legislation often goes unsigned, although the mayor and other executives often hold such events for laws or budgets they have championed.