In San Diego, what price tourism?
Three years ago, more than 61% of voters favored raising the room tariff to pay for fire services. But approval required a two-thirds majority. By Christopher Reynolds Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Important: This article was last updated on October 26, 2007. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information. E-mail story Print story What were they thinking? What exactly did the voters of San Diego have in mind three years ago — just four months after the catastrophic Cedar fire — when they refused to increase taxes to pay for better firefighting? Well, more than 61% of those who voted on that citywide measure did want to raise those taxes, but state law required a two-thirds majority. Among those who voted no, many may have simply been backing away from a ballot heavy with spending proposals, including bonds and tax-hike pitches at the local and state levels, at a time when San Diego was already facing a growing controversy over payouts owed by its pension pro
