COUNTY LEADERS PROPOSE $7 MILLION COST-SAVING PLAN AS PART OF BROADER EFFORT TO FIND SAVINGS AND PROTECT SERVICES AMID FEDERAL CUTS
SAN DIEGO — (January 26, 2026) As San Diego County confronts a difficult fiscal year driven by deep federal funding cuts, County leaders today highlighted concrete actions already underway to cut costs, unlock savings, and protect essential services, introducing a proposal to modernize County communications technology and capture up to $7 million in ongoing annual taxpayer savings.
At a press conference earlier today, the offices of County of San Diego Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe unveiled the communications modernization proposal, the first formal action of the Board of Supervisors’ Fiscal Subcommittee. The proposal builds on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, when the County rapidly adopted mobile and software-based tools to keep services running during unprecedented disruption.
“As Washington cuts healthcare and food assistance, counties don’t have the luxury of inaction,” said Lawson-Remer. “We’re unlocking savings, modernizing how government works, forging new partnerships, and protecting services for San Diegans.”
Vice Chair Montgomery Steppe added, “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.”
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 is expected to consider the proposal for a vote at its upcoming meeting on January 28th.
