County Supervisors Approve Saving San Diego County Taxpayers $7 Million And Protecting Services Amid Federal Cuts
The San Diego Board of Supervisors today approved a proposal to modernize County technology and capture up to $7 million in ongoing annual taxpayer savings. This comes as San Diego County confronts a difficult fiscal year driven by deep federal funding cuts that threaten healthcare, food, and other services for thousands of County residents.
“As Washington cuts healthcare and food assistance, counties don’t have the luxury of inaction,” said Lawson-Remer. “We’re cutting costs, unlocking savings, modernizing how government works, and forging new partnerships to protect services for San Diegans.”
“As we face looming federal and state funding cuts, saving taxpayer dollars means county government must find innovative ways to do more with less. By modernizing our communications systems, we’re redirecting millions of dollars each year back into our communities—and accelerating a change that delivers lasting, long-term impact,” said Vice-Board Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe.
About the Proposal:
During the pandemic, legacy communications systems were intentionally maintained alongside new tools to ensure continuity and reliability as operations shifted rapidly. With several years of data now showing that modern, software-based systems meet operational needs at lower cost, the Fiscal Subcommittee is moving to accelerate that transition and standardize enterprise practices across County departments.
A key driver of current costs is the County’s legacy phone platform, which carries substantial fixed annual expenses regardless of usage. Completing the transition to modern communications tools allows the County to responsibly retire that platform and capture the largest share of ongoing savings.
County staff estimate the proposal could generate up to $7 million in ongoing annual savings, building on savings already achieved through mobile-only configurations and device optimization. The proposal maintains public access to County services and operational reliability, with clear exception processes where legacy systems remain necessary.
The Board of Supervisors approved the proposal at its meeting on January 28.