City Hall Staffing Study

SD Taxpayers releases report showing that San Diego City Hall staffing has grown substantially faster than the rest of the city. Over the last six years, San Diego’s population has marginally changed. Yet the offices that set the City’s policy agenda, including the City Council, Mayor’s Office and City Attorney, became significantly more expensive. Nowhere is that growth more striking than in City Council offices. Since Fiscal Year 2021, Council offices added 51 positions, increasing staffing by 47%, and grew annual costs by $9.68 million. Taken together, Council offices employ a staggering 160 people and consume $22.5 million in annual budget. They now cumulatively represent a larger budget than many City departments responsible for delivering public services. In fact, the growth in Council staffing alone is larger than the entire staff of eleven City departments.