SAN DIEGO — By shelving a new downtown library, the city could save as much as $63 million over the next five years, according to a fiscal analysis by San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio.
DeMaio, who is opposed to the project, issued a memo yesterday to his council colleagues and Mayor Jerry Sanders that outlines how much the city would save if it abandons the project.
The goal of the memo was to refute assertions made by library supporters that the project won’t take funds from the city’s $1.1?billion general fund, which pays for daily operations such as fire, police and parks.
DeMaio said the city should redirect redevelopment funds set aside for the library to cover the annual costs of the city’s debt service on Petco Park and the Convention Center. That would free money in the general fund to help solve the city’s projected budget deficit of $179 million for next year, he said. —C.G.
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