Local Pension Costs Set to Rise in Santee, Says San Diego Taxpayers Group

An analysis of pension expenses for cities throughout San Diego has found that costs for three of them, including Santee, are rising at the highest clip in the region.

The costs of contributing to future retirees' pensions will rise by 6.2 percent in the coming fiscal year in Santee, according to the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

Rises in contributions also will take place in:

• Coronado, 9.4 percent
• Lemon Grove, up 8.7 percent
• Del Mar, up 6.3 percent, and 

Imperial Beach received praise from the taxpayer advocacy group, for having costs that rose by 3.5 percent and also for having no unfunded pension liabilities in the current fiscal year, which ends in June.

Santee, Del Mar, Lemon Grove also had no unfunded liabilities.

The taxpayers association bills itself as a group “dedicated to promoting accountable, cost-effective and efficient government and opposing unnecessary taxes and fees.” 

Pension expenses became a focus of tax advocates over the past decade following revelations that San Diego had mishandled its pension, choosing not to fully fund expenses for future retirees while increasing benefits for workers.

The association's report did not cover the city of San Diego, however; the organization focused on smaller agencies that are part of the statewide pension system, CalPERS.

The group also recommended that cities approach pension reform like the city of San Diego did with Proposition B, which voters passed last year. The measure, however, has been turned back by the state's Public Employee Relations Board, a decision that will be challenged in court.  

The group has issued its pension analyses since 2009.