The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today voted to send a final Charter reform package to the November ballot, giving voters the chance to strengthen independent oversight, transparency, and accountability in County government.

The final package reflects months of public discussion, stakeholder engagement, legal review, and feedback from residents, community organizations, labor partners, good-government advocates, County departments, and independently elected County offices.

In response to that feedback, the Board removed proposed term-limit changes for independently elected County offices, including the Sheriff, District Attorney, Assessor/Recorder/Clerk, and Treasurer-Tax Collector. The measure now applies term-limit changes only to members of the Board of Supervisors.

The Board also updated the ballot question to give voters clearer information, including language stating that the measure would increase Board of Supervisors term limits from two to three terms.

“Good reform should be strong enough to hold power accountable and responsive enough to listen when people raise concerns,” said Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “This was never about one person’s wish list. It was a public process shaped by stakeholders from beginning to end. We listened, we made changes, and the final package is stronger because of it. Now voters will decide whether San Diego County should have independent ethics enforcement, independent budget analysis, independent program auditing, and clearer public transparency over how County government works.”

If approved by voters, the Charter reforms would establish an Independent Ethics Commission with authority over elected officials; create a nonpartisan Independent Budget Analyst to provide independent fiscal analysis to the Board and the public; create an Independent Program Auditor to evaluate whether County programs are delivering results; require public disclosure of County spending and performance data; create a public input and Board confirmation process for certain senior County leaders; clarify non-interference provisions; and modernize outdated Charter language and structure.

The measure would also increase Board of Supervisors term limits from two to three terms, matching the 12-year limit used for California state legislators while preserving voter authority to remove or replace supervisors at any election.

“The choice before voters is straightforward,” Lawson-Remer said. “Should San Diego County continue operating without independent ethics enforcement, independent budget analysis, and independent program auditing — or should we modernize the Charter so the public has stronger tools to see how government decisions are made and whether programs are working?”

San Diego County’s current Charter does not provide for an Independent Ethics Commission, an Independent Budget Analyst, or an Independent Program Auditor. Supporters say those reforms are needed to give the public more visibility into how billions in taxpayer dollars are spent, whether County programs are delivering results, and whether County decision-making meets modern standards for transparency and accountability.

The reforms are required to be implemented in a revenue-neutral manner — with no new spending and no reduced County services.

The updated ballot question will ask voters:

“Shall the San Diego County Charter be amended to establish an Independent Ethics Commission, Independent Budget Analyst, Independent Program Auditor, confirmation of certain senior County leaders, and optional Board of Supervisors appointment of the Public Defender; increase term limits from two to three terms for the Board of Supervisors members; require public disclosure of spending and performance data; clarify non-interference provisions; and update terminology and structure?”

The reform package is backed by San Diego County Firefighters Cal-Fire Local 2881, the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, the Tijuana River Coalition, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, WildCoast, ACCE, Business For Good, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, SEIU 221, the Employee Rights Center, LiUNA, San Diego Pride, Equality California, and the Pilipino Workers Center, Stop the Sewage, San Diego Bird Alliance, San Diego Bike Coalition, Un Mar De Colores, Hammond Climate Solutions, Coastkeeper, Climate Action Campaign, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, UAW, SEIU-UHW, NUHW, SEIU-CIR, UDW, San Diego County Public Defenders Union, UCSD Student Civil Liberties Union, CPI, Employee Rights Center, Business for Good, Trans Family Support Services, LGBTQ+leader, Singleton & Schreiber, Take Action San Diego, Business for Good, The Center, City Heights CDC, YouthWill, Interfaith Workers Justice of San Diego, Pillars of the Community, Crisis House, and Serving Seniors.

QUOTES FROM SUPPORTERS: 

“Firefighters adapt as conditions change — longer fire seasons, new risks, growing communities. County governance should adapt too,” said John Clark, President of the San Diego County Firefighters Cal-Fire Local 2881. “Clear accountability and modern oversight help ensure resources are used effectively to keep people safe.”

 “As Sheriff’s Deputies, we know that public trust is essential to doing our jobs well,” said Mike O’Deane, President of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. “These Charter reforms make sense. Increasing transparency, stability, and oversight will be good for County operations, good for public trust, and good for the communities we serve.”

“Civic and business leaders have talked about the need of having clearer oversight in such a large County for many years,” said Mel Katz, a San Diego County Business & Civic Leader. “Small business owners don’t have access to legal teams and depend on government systems to be transparent, clear, fair, and accountable.”

“In a time when conversations around accountability matter, let’s make sure the biggest government in our region follows through with actions and not just promises,” said Max Disposti, a non-profit executive, a LGBTQ+ leader, and Chair of the Oceanside Community Relations Commission. “A systemic reform that can finally bring transparency into our budget process by allowing public input while implementing an independent auditing process that can actually evaluate the impact of our tax dollar investments. It is time for a change so that the County does not operate with the same systemic values of several decades ago.”

“Reproductive health and freedom does not exist in a vacuum. Every day, our patients count on public systems that are stable, responsive, and committed to serving the public good. When County government functions effectively, patients experience fewer barriers to accessing care, public health programs are better resourced, and communities have a clearer understanding of how decisions impacting their health are made,” said Vernita Gutierrez, Vice President of External Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest. “Strengthening independent oversight, building public trust, and ensuring that County leadership is accountable to the public helps safeguard the systems that people rely on for essential services.”