What do you consider the most pressing issue for the city of San Diego?

The most pressing issue is the city’s ongoing structural budget deficit.

How do you as a Councilmember plan to address that issue?

The solution must be comprehensive and consider all options, but the first steps include:

-Seeking a legal analysis to determine how to adjust the city retirees’ annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) to the same COLA paid out to social security retirees.

-Determining if there is a legal basis for repealing the retroactive portion of benefits for current employees that were granted in 1996 and 2002.

-Ensuring that DROP is cost neutral, as currently required in the Municipal Code.

-Requiring a full financial accounting of all city contracts.

-Adopting a two year budget cycle.

-Determining if there is a legal basis to amend the Municipal Code to eliminate the Preservation of Benefits section, to avoid paying out benefits that exceed the limits established by the Internal Revenue Code.

What approach to this issue do others offer?

I cannot speak for others.

What are the consequences to the city of failing to address (its structural budgetary deficit)?

The consequences are an unsustainable pension system, never-ending budget deficits and continuing reductions in the level of city services. If not addressed, this could lead to bankruptcy.

Steven Hadley is a candidate for Council District 6. He has a B.A. in ministerial studies with a minor in business management, and a M.A. in church history; both from Loma Linda University. He worked for seventeen years as a pastor before attending California Western School of Law.

Upon graduating from law school, Steve worked with Deputy Mayor Harry Mathis as the Council Representative for Carmel Valley, Torrey Hills, and Del Mar Heights/Terraces. He joined the Sixth District as the Council Representative for Serra Mesa in January 2001, and served as Councilmember Frye's Representative for Clairemont during the first two years of her first term. After working as a Church Administrator in North County for a year, Steve returned to work with Donna Frye as her Chief of Staff in July of 2004.

                                        

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