Defense Spending in County Tops $10 Billion

Defense spending brought more than $10 billion to San Diego County in 2001, including the largest portion of military payroll received by any county in the United States.

A study presented to county supervisors Tuesday showed that defense spending in the region has increased after years of decline in the 1990s. The county received $10.1 billion in defense spending in 2001, the most recent information available. The money represented military payroll, installation maintenance costs, defense contracts and payments to vendors.