The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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ESCONDIDO, SAN MARCOS, VISTA
VOL. 6, N0. 24
NOV. 26, 2021
San Marcos is latest city to join CEA By Tigist Layne
creasing costs including deferring infrastructure maintenance, outsourcing services, instituting pension reform, increasing employees’ share of benefit packages, reducing the city’s workforce by 126 full-time employees below pre-recession levels (while Escondido grew by 8,000 residents during this time), updating city fees, installing cost-saving technology and more. “As the local economy slowly recovers from the pandemic and yet no new revenue source has been identified for the upcoming fiscal year, the
SAN MARCOS — The San Marcos City Council decided Tuesday, Nov. 9, to join the Clean Energy Alliance (CEA), composed of other North County cities that have opted to buy energy directly from producers and sell it to residents and businesses. The council voted 5-0 to join the alliance, which currently includes Carlsbad, Solana Beach and Del Mar among its members. The City of Escondido also recently joined the CEA, with Oceanside and Vista considering joining the alliance, as well. The alliance is a Community Choice Energy (CCE) or Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, which is an alternative to traditional investor owned utilities such as San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). CCEs purchase power on behalf of its customers with the goal to lower costs, allow consumers greater control of their energy mix and offer a cleaner power supply to satisfy community priorities. The CEA was formed in November 2019 as a Joint Powers Authority with the primary aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through providing alternative energy resources and programs to electricity customers. The organization figures to be about 2% less expensive than SDG&E for average residential customers, according to a joint rate comparison conducted by CEA and SDG&E. “It gives residents and businesses a choice in their electricity provider, which they don’t currently have, so they have more choice with regards to how clean the energy is,” CEA chief executive Barbara Boswell said. “It also brings local control; the decision-making and rate-making is be-
TURN TO TAX ON 6
TURN TO CEA ON 6
BRETT BYLER
Escondido officer loses cancer battle By City News Service
ESCONDIDO — An Escondido police officer has died following a nearly two-year battle with cancer, the police department announced Tuesday. Brett Byler died Nov. 14 from glioblastoma. He was 32. After a brain tumor was discovered in February 2020, Byler underwent surgery and “numerous treatments, all while spending as much time as he possibly could with his family and loved ones,” according to an Escondido Police Department statement. He is survived by his wife, Mariah, and their three young daughters, Brynlee, Barrett and Bellamy. Prior to working for Escondido police, Byler served in the Marine Corps and as a police officer with the Department of Defense and the San Diego Police Department. Escondido Police Chief Ed Varso called Byler “an outstanding police officer” who “will always be remembered for his love of police work and his phenomenal sense of humor. In fact, during my last visit with Brett, he was still enjoying his time watching videos of vehicle pursuits. Brett LOVED being a cop!” The Byler family was featured on the “Today” show in April 2020, when friends and neighbors organized a drive-by parade at his Temecula home to celebrate Byler’s 31st birthday. Donations for the family can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/byler-family.
FIRE DRILL
Jose Ocamdo, right, a Navy aviation boatswain’s mate airman from Escondido, and his partner practice using a Naval Fire Fighting Thermal Imager during a firefighting drill this month on the flight deck of the USS America off the coast of Japan. The USS America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet to help maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. US Navy photo by Spec. 3rd Class Thomas B. Contant
Escondido’s potential new tax explained By Tigist Layne
ESCONDIDO — The Escondido City Council is considering putting a tax measure on the November 2022 ballot that would implement a 1% sales tax increase citywide. The current sales tax rate in Escondido is 7.75%, which is the base rate for San Diego County. This includes the statewide rate of 7.25%, plus a half-cent for San Diego County’s TransNet program. Of that amount, the city receives only 1%. The measure, if approved by voters, would implement a sales tax increase that would generate $25 million annually in
new revenue for maintaining city services. The council rejected a similar resolution in July 2020. According to City Clerk Zack MCNAMARA Beck, 291 of the state’s 482 cities (60%) and 36 of the state’s 58 counties (62%) have approved a transaction and use tax similar to the measure that Escondido is considering. Many of these cities have a tax rate that is at least 8.25%. These include
Del Mar, Ocea nside, Vista, El Cajon, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and La Mesa. Based on the city’s May 2021 MORASCO budget report, Escondido faces a budget deficit of $8 million in FY 2021/22, a $13 million deficit by FY 2023/24 and a structural budget deficit of more than $150 million in the next 20 years. Over the years, the city has continually had to find other ways of de-