Daily Business Report-March 13, 2019
The Board of Supervisors meeting on March 12, 2019. (Photo courtesy of County of San Diego)
Supervisors approve
evening budget hearing
The County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to add an evening budget hearing during the County’s hearings for the fiscal year budget 2019-2021.
The county’s recommended two-year operational plan will be posted online for public and board review in early May. Public budget hearings are scheduled to begin June 10 at 9 a.m. Typically, these hearings are conducted during the day and they kick off with a presentation to the Board.
The Supervisors agreed to schedule an evening session to allow people greater opportunity to attend the board meeting and give their input on the budget.
The evening hearing will begin with a repeat budget presentation to the board at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13. Public comment will be allowed throughout the evening.
Budget deliberations and formal adoption of the first year of the budget plan are scheduled for June 25 at 2 p.m. At that time, the Board will also approve the second year in principle for planning purposes.
The recommended operational plan identifies the past year’s major accomplishments and identifies strategic objectives for the next two years.
The public can learn more about the recommended budget when the online budget portal and the recommended operational plan are updated on May 6. The public can also submit comments to the board using video or text options when an e-comment website becomes available that same day. The online comments, in-person and written feedback options will be available until budget hearings close at 5 p.m. on June 19.
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University of San Diego among schools
in nationwide college admissions bribery scandal
Times of San Diego
A Newport Beach man pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of masterminding a wide-ranging bribery scheme designed to get children of well-heeled parents into elite universities, including University of San Diego, USC and UCLA, with actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin among those implicated.
were among a dozen people arrested Tuesday in Los Angeles in connection with the alleged $25 million scheme. Federal prosecutors said wealthy parents would pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to get their children admitted to prestigious universities by passing them off as recruited athletes — regardless of their athletic ability — or by helping them cheat on college entrance exams.
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Study: 85 percent of small businesses
along 78 Corridor anticipate future growth
With many economists forecasting an economic downturn in the years ahead, small businesses are often the most vulnerable to a changing economy. However, a new survey released by Innovate 78, a collaboration among Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista – found that small businesses are feeling optimistic about the future. Eighty-five percent of small businesses along the 78 Corridor project financial growth over the next two years, demonstrating stability in San Diego’s North County.
“Most small business owners are so busy running their companies, that they don’t have time to step back and leverage the resources available to them,” said Michelle Geller, economic development manager for the city of Escondido. “As part of Innovate78, we are taking a collaborative, data-driven approach to understand their business’ needs. Using the data from this study, we will be able to better collaborate with regional partners to ensure these businesses remain viable and a key economic engine in North County.”
The Small Business Ecosystem along the 78 Corridor surveyed 164 small businesses – firms with fewer than 100 employees – as a way to uncover insight and gain a deeper understanding of small business perceptions of the regional business climate.
According to EMSI, small businesses make up 98 percent of the 78 Corridor’s businesses – mirroring the broader San Diego region.
Key Findings:
- Businesses are growing. Over the next two years, 85 percent expect to grow in terms of financial performance.
- Companies have a focus on local customers. In total, 69 percent said their customers were primarily in Southern California, whereas only 7 percent said their customers were primarily international.
- Job growth will continue to be fueled by small businesses. Over the next two years, 45 percent of 78 Corridor small businesses project employment growth, while only 6 percent say they will have fewer employees.
- Generating new sales is the biggest need for small business owners. A majority –
88 percent – of small businesses said sales/new business was a challenge. As a way to generate sales, survey respondents identified ‘marketing’ as their highest future priority.
- Connecting to resources is imperative. Small business identified needing assistance with financing, marketing and business development. However, many cited a lack of knowledge of available resource providers, like municipalities, economic development organizations, and chambers of commerce.
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New move to abolish 140-year-old board
State Board of Equalization faces elimination
By Dan Morain | CALmatters
Some legislators seem intent on dealing a final death blow to an obscure and sometimes scandal-ridden elected state board that is responsible for handling property tax appeals.
The Board of Equalization was created 140 years ago. Government efficiency advocates have been calling for its abolition for 80 of those years.
The five-member board includes four elected members, each of whom receives annual pay of $151,260. The controller is the fifth voting member.
The board fended off efforts to kill it, in part because legislators saw it as a soft landing spot.
Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature finally stripped the board of all but a small portion of its duties in 2017, and gave most of its authority to the new California Department of Tax and Fee Administration and the Office of Tax Appeals.
Lawmakers acted after an audit and news reports disclosed egregious instances of cronyism and misuse of public funds.
Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, a Democrat from Sherman Oaks, has a bill to ask voters to abolish the board. Controller Betty Yee called for its abolition at a legislative hearing last week.
Yee: “The board has changed over time and certainly now with the limited responsibilities or reduced responsibilities, I do believe there is no need for an elected board.”
No other state has an elected tax commission.
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Board of Supervisors votes to create
new board to oversee child welfare system
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved creating a new board to enhance the ability of the County to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect.
The action dissolved the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council and replaces that body with a new Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board that will have broad oversight of the county’s child welfare system.
The county’s child welfare services investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and oversees foster care and adoption services.
The mission of the new advisory board will be to serve as a platform for collaboration and transparent monitoring of the child welfare system to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families.
“This new advisory board will play a key role in achieving our Live Well San Diego vision, working with our partners who serve children and families to improve this system and ensure that children grow up healthy, safe and thriving,” said Nick Macchione, county Health and Human Services Agency director.
The new board will absorb the duties of the current Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, including administering the Children’s Trust Fund, and will work closely and collaborate with the Polinsky Children’s Center Advisory Board and the San Diego County Foster Care Services Committee.
The Advisory Board will consist of 21 voting members representing a broad cross-section of community stakeholders. Two members of the Board of Supervisors who shall serve as co-chairs
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U.S. News & World Report: UC San Diego
graduate and professional schools ranked high
U.S. News & World Report released its 2020 guidebook that ranks the nation’s top graduate programs and professional schools, giving high marks to UC San Diego’s innovative programs. The U.S. News guidebook annually lists professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law and medicine.
This year’s publication named UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering 11th overall in the U.S., up one spot from last year; and 6th in the nation among public engineering schools. The Jacobs School’s bioengineering graduate program ranks 5th in the nation.
The UC San Diego School of Medicine is 21st in the U.S. among research-intensive programs, up one spot compared to last year, and is 6th among public medical schools.
The Rady School of Management part-time MBA program soared 21 spots from 56th last year to 35th on this year’s list. Among public universities, it is 22nd best.
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San Diego State graduate programs
continue to climb in national rankings
San Diego State University’s graduate schools and programs continue to climb in national rankings. The 2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings, just released, show significant increases in their standings.
Even without the presence of a medical school, SDSU’s graduate program in public health ranked No. 23 of more than 170 schools. This is an increase of 16 spots from last year’s ranking of No. 39, and can be attributed in part to the work of SDSU faculty and the university’s close connection with the county of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
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Chicano Federation to honor
Irma Castro and Delia H. Talamantez
The Chicano Federation of San Diego County will recognize San Diego residents Irma Castro and Delia H. Talamantez for their community leadership at its 50th Anniversary Ball on Saturday, May 11. Castro and Talamantez were nominated by the community and will receive the Chicano Federation Legacy Award and Chicano Federation Visionary Award, respectively. More than 400 guests are expected to attend the celebratory event at The US Grant Hotel in Downtown San Diego.
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, it’s only fitting to honor two remarkable women who have blazed trails as advocates for equal rights and better access to opportunities for many in our community,” says Nancy Maldonado, CEO, Chicano Federation of San Diego County. “Irma and Delia’s inspiring work truly embodies the spirit of the Chicano Federation.”
During her tenure as executive director of the Chicano Federation, Castro also helped spearhead the Vista Serena Senior Housing Project, which began in 1985 and was completed in 1993. This was the first affordable housing project the Federation undertook. Due to her efforts, the Federation currently leads a portfolio of nine properties throughout the city of San Diego, including Barrio Logan, City Heights, and South Park neighborhoods. She has served on the board for the Vista Serena Development Corporation since 1995. In her role, she handles the approval of budgets, approval of major improvement costs, and officer elections.
Talamantez, a resident of the Banker’s Hill neighborhood of San Diego, has exemplified the mission of the Chicano Federation to create and promote empowering opportunities for our diverse community through her extensive professional and community activities.
She served for 30 years as director of the Staff Affirmative Action/Conflict of Interest Office, as well as chief campus officer to Affirmative Action-Vendors and Staff and Special Employment Programs at UC San Diego. In her conflict of interest role, she evaluated and monitored campus compliance with university, state and federal regulators. She also advised administrators, faculty members, supervisors and employees on conflict of interest issues and provided policy interpretation and technical assistance to insure compliance.
