It’s Time to Talk of Compromise : Threats need to be put aside to settle questions surrounding Port District funds

Civic petulance is on the loose in San Diego County. First it was the city of San Marcos initially refusing to allow expansion of North County’s only active landfill, thereby bringing the region to the brink of yet another trash crisis.

Now Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) wants South Bay mayors to refuse to negotiate with the city of San Diego over a bailout for cities hit hard by state budget cuts. In a letter released this week, Peace asked the mayors of Chula Vista, Coronado, National City and Imperial Beach to insist that San Diego abandon a proposal to build a joint border airport with Mexico before the debate begins over splitting up San Diego Unified Port District funds to offset the budget cuts.

But this is no time for civic warfare--and no time to dump a viable airport alternative.

At issue is legislation sponsored by Peace that allows certain harbor cities to recoup property taxes lost to the state by tapping into the reserve funds of their port districts. In most jurisdictions, that’s a simple bookkeeping matter. But in San Diego County, the process is uniquely complex. The Port District is the only one in the state that serves more than one city. And, by requiring unanimous consent, Peace’s legislation essentially gives any one of those five cities or the Port District veto power over an agreement.

Thus the potential for fiscal hardball is high. And that’s just what Peace wants to play. But the South Bay mayors have legitimate reasons to object to San Diego receiving a disproportionate share of any bailout. They can argue their case on its merits--and they don’t need to hold the debate over a regional airport hostage to do it.

If the port takes too much of a hit, projects long promised to the South Bay--such as Chula Vista’s bayfront redevelopment project--could be jeopardized.

But certainly some balance can be found between the desperate needs of San Diego, which lost $12 million in property taxes to the state in the final days of the budget battle, and the South Bay’s legitimate concerns about losing projects vital to its economy.

Yes, South Bay residents are concerned that the TwinPorts airport plan could increase traffic and pollution problems in their region. And Peace makes a good point when he suggests that San Diego officials also focus their efforts on this side of the border and attempt to persuade the Defense Department to allow joint civilian use of Miramar Naval Air Station.

That option is particularly viable in an era of military downsizing. But TwinPorts also deserves serious consideration, especially now that high-level negotiations between the two countries are finally under way.

San Marcos ultimately bowed to regional needs and compromise. So should the South Bay mayors. This is a time for serious negotiating, not hostage-taking.