Countywide

San Diego County supervisors Tuesday decided to oppose state legislation that would give cities veto power over state-funded county jails built within their boundaries.

The requirement, amended into a bill allocating money from a state bond measure approved by voters June 3, unfairly limits the power of counties to build jails and could set a dangerous precedent, county officials said.

David Janssen, assistant chief administrative officer, said it was a bad idea to allow cities to dictate where counties can place certain services or facilities.

“Pretty soon they’ll be controlling everything we do,” Janssen said.

Sheriff John Duffy said he was angry that Assemblyman Larry Stirling (R-San Diego) amended the Senate bill in an effort to help the city of Santee fight a proposed jail in that city.

“I feel betrayed,” Duffy said. “This bill was put together in the best interests of San Diego County, which is responsible for building the jails.”

Duffy said Stirling’s intervention upset the task of balancing all the political forces competing for the $495 million in bond money, a job Duffy said was “like juggling eggs.”

The board voted 4-0 to oppose the legislation, with Supervisor Brian Bilbray absent.

Santee officials, meanwhile, continued to press their case against the jail Tuesday, descending on the county board meeting with a group of residents to speak out against the proposal. Supervisor George Bailey, who represents the area, told them that the 600-bed jail will not be built in Santee until after a review of that site and several others still under consideration.