In the final days before Election Day, Carlsbad residents are busy casting their votes for a city treasurer, two City Council members and a spending measure.
Here’s a breakdown of what residents in Carlsbad will see on their ballots.
Measure B
Voters will decide on a spending measure called Measure B. It’s an update of Proposition H, which voters passed back in 1982. Proposition H prohibits the city from spending more than $1 million of city funds to buy or improve property without first getting approval from voters.
“City funds” specifically refers to revenue from sales tax, property tax and the tax visitors pay when they stay in hotels and vacation rentals.
If approved, Measure B would raise the $1 million limit to $3.09 million, which is equivalent to $1 million in 1982 when adjusted for inflation.
The measure would also automatically adjust the limit for inflation each year on Jan. 1 based on the regional Construction Cost Index. And it would exempt public safety facilities from the limit.
Since Proposition H was passed in 1982, Carlsbad voters have approved six projects that cost more than $1 million in city funds, including Fire Station 2 in 2016 and, more recently, the Monroe Street Pool renovation in 2022.
There have been other city projects since 1982 that have exceeded $1 million and did not require voter approval because they were funded with grants, developer fees, or other sources of funding that were not considered “city funds,” according to the city’s website.
What the people are saying: Proponents of the measure say it’s consistent with what voters wanted in 1982 but would also allow public safety projects to be constructed without delays.
Some residents, though, have expressed concern that the city is straying from the original intent of Proposition H, which was to make sure that any large spending by the city on buying or developing land had to be approved by voters.
Critics take issue with the fact that some city projects have been funded using different sources of money, allowing them to move forward without needing voter approval.
City Council & Treasurer
In District 4, incumbent Democratic Councilmember Teresa Acosta is facing challenger Republican Greg Day, a commercial airline pilot.
Acosta told the San Diego Union-Tribune that her priorities are public safety, sustainability and affordability. Day said, if elected, he would prioritize homelessness, public safety and local control when it comes to development.
Carlsbad’s District 2 has no incumbent City Council member. It’s current council member, Carolyn Luna, was appointed to the seat with the understanding that she wouldn’t run for election this year.
Democratic Marine Corps Veteran and retired fire captain Kevin Shin is facing off against Republican software engineer Tyler Collins.
Shin told the U-T that he would prioritize the city’s budget, public safety and local control if elected. Collins said public safety, affordable housing and Carlsbad’s quality of life are his top priorities.
What’s at stake: Whoever wins these two council seats could significantly influence the political balance of the Carlsbad City Council. Currently, the mayor is a Republican, and among the council members not up for reelection, one is a Republican and the other a Democrat.
While City Councils are technically nonpartisan, political affiliations are a good predictor of an elected leader’s voting patterns and priorities. Also, political parties are the most powerful coalitions in local politics, and they can help candidates raise significant resources and include them in broader communications for voters who trust the parties’ endorsements.
City Treasurer: Four candidates are running for city treasurer after the former city treasurer, Craig Lindholm, retired in June.
Candidates Thomas E. Krouse Jr., Michael J. Williams, Gregorio Kahn and Christian Peacox are running to oversee the management of the city’s cash and investments.
Around Town: Update on Vista’s Cannabis Tax Revenues
Vista’s excess cannabis revenue provides millions of dollars in extra funds each year, some of which goes toward recreational and academic scholarships for Vista’s youth.
Voice of San Diego previously reported that the city’s cannabis tax generates upwards of $7 million each year in tax revenue from cannabis businesses. In 2021, city leaders decided to cap cannabis tax revenues for the general fund at $4 million each year, and any revenue beyond that would go toward funding special projects.
One of the most successful city initiatives that came out of that decision to fund special projects with cannabis tax revenues is the youth recreational scholarship program, which helps students and youth participate in sports, arts, camps, summer programs and other extra-curricular activities.
Vista residents under 25 years old can apply for scholarships to help pay for things like registration fees and supplies for teams or activities they want to participate in.
Since deciding to fund special projects in 2021, the city has allocated more than $1.5 million into the program, according to yearly spending reports. Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the city provided a total of $773,412 in scholarships to 2,200 youth.
The program has become so popular that the city had to hire someone to help run the program.
Last month, the City Council decided to further formalize the spending allocations for cannabis tax revenues moving forward. Each year, the city will allocate 65 percent of cannabis revenues to the general fund, 15 percent for recreational and educational programs and 20 percent for projects, which includes money for two extra sheriff deputies and two extra park rangers.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council decided that, of the 15 percent allocated for youth and educational programs, 80 percent would continue to fund the popular recreational scholarship program, and 20 percent would fund academic scholarships.
That comes out to about $800,000 annually for recreational scholarships and about $200,000 for academic scholarships, said City Manager John Conley at the meeting.
In Other News
- The governing board that runs the Del Mar Fairgrounds has agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle allegations that it received funds from a Covid-related federal loan program even though it was not eligible. (Union-Tribune)
- Earlier this month, the city of Escondido imposed a temporary ban on new battery energy storage system facilities while city officials work to establish guidelines and zoning regulations for the storage sites. (Coast News) The move comes after a fire broke out at a battery storage site in Escondido last month. (Voice of San Diego)
- Businesses in Carlsbad’s Village Plaza are facing an uncertain future after the Carlsbad City Council approved plans to rebuild the plaza despite objections from many residents. (Coast News)