Public Safety
Creating a Safer San Diego
When emergencies happen, San Diegans rely on firefighters, law enforcement and other first responders for help. Learn what public safety funding pays for and what Measure B would fund.
Why Does Public Safety Funding Matter?
Public safety depends on reliable funding. That money pays for people, equipment, facilities and communication systems used before and during emergencies.
The Issue at a Glance
Public safety services help residents during wildfires, medical emergencies, natural disasters and other emergencies.
Firefighters, law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers and other responders need trained staff, vehicles, equipment and communication systems to do their jobs.
Public safety also includes work done before an emergency. This can include wildfire prevention, planning and keeping 911 systems working.
These services are paid for through county and local government budgets. Measure B would allocate some revenue to be used for public safety, wildfire prevention and emergency response.
$64M-$72M
Estimated Measure B revenue for public safety, wildfire prevention and emergency response.
32 Major Wildfires
Wildfires larger than 10 acres that San Diego County responded to in 2024 - a decade record.
See Source
800,000 Calls
Estimated number of emergency and service calls handled each year by San Diego County Sheriff’s dispatchers.
Emergency Response
When someone calls 911, the response depends on trained staff, working dispatch systems, vehicles, equipment and agencies working together.
Wildfire Preparedness
San Diego County faces an ongoing wildfire risk. Preparing for fires can include prevention, planning, equipment and work to reduce fire danger before a wildfire starts.
Community Safety
Law enforcement officers respond to emergencies, investigate crimes and support public safety. Their work also depends on reliable communication and 911 systems.
Fire Preparedness
Firefighters, equipment, planning and other resources used before and during fires and emergencies.
Wildfire Mitigation
Projects and services that reduce wildfire risk and help communities prepare.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement services and resources allowed under Measure B.
911 Infrastructure
911 systems used to receive emergency calls, send responders and help agencies work together.
Voter Considerations
Voters may think about questions like these:
- How much should the county invest in fire prevention, law enforcement, 911 systems and emergency response?
- Is a county sales tax the right way to pay for public safety services?
- How should the county, cities, fire districts and other agencies share responsibility?
- How should the money be divided among fire services, wildfire prevention, law enforcement and 911?
- How should the county measure whether public safety workers and services are prepared and able to respond?
FAQs
Public safety funding can pay for staff, training, vehicles, equipment, facilities and communication systems. These resources support fire response, wildfire preparation, law enforcement and 911 dispatch. What gets funded can vary by the county, cities, fire districts and other agencies.
Public safety is shared among the county, cities, fire districts, law enforcement agencies, medical responders and other regional partners. The agency that responds can depend on where the emergency happens and what kind of help is needed.
Wildfire mitigation means work done to lower wildfire risk and reduce damage. It can include clearing or managing vegetation, planning, equipment, public education and other steps taken before a fire starts.
911 infrastructure includes the technology and communication systems used to receive emergency calls, find a caller’s location and send help. These systems connect people with fire, medical and law enforcement services.
Measure B would direct 16% of its revenue to public safety, wildfire prevention and emergency response. The money could pay for fire preparation, wildfire mitigation, law enforcement and 911 systems.
Maybe. Measure B would provide local funding for public safety, but response times depend on many things. These include staffing, location, traffic, the number of emergencies happening at the same time and how agencies work together.
Measure B would create an additional source of funding that could only be used for purposes allowed under the measure.
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