Measure B

Solid Waste Management Services

CITY OF SAN DIEGO—Would provide the City the option to recover City costs for solid waste management services instead of the City General Fund which currently covers a majority of these costs. Measure B requires a simple majority (50% + 1) to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Would allow the City to impose a fee, and the fee is still to be determined. According to City staff, up to approximately $79.2 million in costs in the fiscal year 2023 Adopted Budget could be covered by a fee if such a fee were currently allowed. A best estimate of this fee, assuming the City only recovers costs for services it currently provides and potential costs to bill and collect fee revenue, ranges from $23 to $29 per month per customer.

Next San Diego County Measure: Measure C

See Endorsements for Measure B

Pro:

Proponents of Measure B argue that San Diego operates under a 103-year old law that created a deeply unfair, fiscally irresponsible, and environmentally unsustainable system that also severely limits the types of services the city can provide, forcing homeowners to go through an expensive and time-consuming process to replace broken trash bins even when broken by City trucks. They argue Measure B will fix this broken and unfair system so San Diego can start delivering better services for all of us, like bulky item pickup and free replacement of broken trash bins.

A YES vote on this measure means: The City would have the option to recover City costs for solid waste management services instead of the City General Fund which currently covers a majority of these costs.

Con:

Opponents of Measure B argue that if it passes, San Diegans will in essence be charged twice for trash service. They argue voters passed the People's Ordinance in 1919 to direct the City to earmark a portion of existing property tax revenues to provide the service, and the policy of using your existing tax assessment for trash service was reaffirmed by voters in 1981 and 1986.

A NO vote on this measure means: The City would maintain the status quo and not have the option to recover City costs for solid waste management services instead of the City General Fund which currently covers a majority of these costs.

In 1919, City of San Diego (City) voters approved a citizens’ initiative known as the People’s Ordinance, which required the City to collect all “refuse,” now generally referred to as “solid waste,” generated within City limits, and to impose a fee to cover the cost of providing collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste, which it never did. City voters later amended the People’s Ordinance to prohibit the City from charging a fee to properties that received solid waste management services from the City.

Today, the People’s Ordinance requires the City to collect, transport, and dispose of solid waste from certain residential properties at least once each week and prohibits the City from charging a fee for these services. Solid waste includes trash, recyclables, organic waste, and other waste. The People’s Ordinance also prohibits the City from collecting nonresidential waste, which includes commercial and industrial waste, except under limited circumstances, and generally prohibits the City from entering private property to provide solid waste management services except in a public emergency.

Under existing law, eligible residential properties receive City-provided services funded by the City’s General and Recycling Funds, whereas properties not eligible for City-provided solid waste management services must arrange and pay for the cost of their own services.

If adopted, this measure would amend the language in the People’s Ordinance to clarify eligibility and authorize the City to charge a fee for City-provided solid waste management services to eligible single family residential properties and multi-family residential properties with up to four residences on a single lot.

This measure would allow the City Council to establish a fee for City-provided solid waste management services at a future date. Before the City could adopt a fee, the City would be required to conduct a study to determine the City’s cost to provide the services. Under state law, the fee charged by the City could not exceed the City’s cost to provide the services and would be adopted at a public meeting. Any proposed fee would be subject to the majority protest procedures under the California Constitution and would require City Council approval, through the same procedures used for sewer or water rate increases. The fee could include extra related services or materials such as replacement containers.

The measure would clarify that the City may provide solid waste management services, to City facilities, parks, beaches, and City-managed property, using City employees or hired contractors.

The measure would allow the City to enter private property to assist residents with solid waste management services under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would delete outdated language regarding hold harmless agreements and disposal fees. This measure was proposed by members of the City Council, who voted to place it on the ballot.

Source: City Attorney's Impartial Analysis of Measure B

San Diego Office of the City Clerk

Pro:

Con:

2026 Propositions

2026 Local Ballot Measures

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