GOP Supervisor’s Anti-Tax Push Backfires

Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond’s proposal to block county lobbying for potential tax hikes backfired on Tuesday. 

Desmond’s pitch: The county has a lobbying plan that guides its positioning on state and federal legislation. Desmond wanted to update that plan to proactively oppose any potential legislation that could end up increasing taxes in one of two ways: property document transfer and payroll. The idea followed a now-canceled county callout for bids from lobbyists who might help the county push for those reforms. Desmond previously pounced on the proposal. 

Democratic Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer’s clapback: She had a plan of her own Tuesday – and a Democratic board majority to back her up. After Desmond spoke, Lawson-Remer introduced amendments to instead update the lobbying plan to oppose “tax giveaways for the rich” and “seek state authority to ask voters to support new taxes on Californians that have benefited the most from our economy.” 

The amendments, approved by the board’s three Democrats, called out billionaires, global investors, large corporations and out-of-state real estate speculators as targets for potential tax hikes. 

Lawson-Remer emphasized that the county has yet to make specific proposals but is trying to ensure it has options as it grapples with an expected $300 million annual budget hit tied to Trump-backed cuts. 

“The core of this is putting this board on record of opposing tax giveaways on the wealthy that shift costs onto working families and directing staff to seek state authority so voters – not us, not elected politicians – decide whether the wealthiest beneficiaries of the economy should also contribute to help protecting essential services like health care, food assistance and 911 emergencies,” Lawson-Remer said. 

Desmond argued that the county should focus on cutting spending rather than seek new revenue from taxpayers. 

“I brought this item forward because I believe the county should take a clear, public stand against unjust and unnecessary taxes and tell the state that San Diegans cannot afford more. My colleagues chose not to do that today,” Desmond wrote in a statement after the vote. “I will continue fighting for families, workers, and small businesses who are being priced out of the region they call home.” 

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