A San Diego City Council member has suggested moving up the timeline to begin charging for parking at Balboa Park to address budget woes.
Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera argues if the city accelerates the start date for paid parking in Balboa Park by six months — from Jan. 1, 2026, to July 1 of this year — that could generate nearly enough new revenue to prevent proposed cuts to city libraries and recreation centers.
Mayor Todd Gloria has said the January 2026 start date was chosen so people leading the park’s museums and other attractions would have enough time to collaborate with city officials on a smart and solid plan to make such a big change.
Based on city projections for Balboa Park parking revenue, Elo-Rivera says the city could generate an additional $11 million by accelerating the start date to July 1.
Question: Should San Diego move up the start date for paid parking at Balboa Park?
Economists
Alan Gin, University of San Diego
YES: The city is desperately in need of revenue. San Diego historically has generated much less revenue per capita than other major cities in California. That has caused budget shortfalls and cutbacks in services. There is going to be paid parking at Balboa Park; moving up the implementation date will generate enough revenue to offset some of the projected cuts to parks, libraries and recreation centers. Some of the parking fees will be paid by tourists coming from outside of San Diego.
James Hamilton, UC San Diego
YES: This is one of the ways that the city can raise revenue with minimal economic damage. In effect, the city is collecting a fee for a service that people value. And unlike most other taxes, charging a fee for leaving your car in the park will not destroy jobs. Moreover, technological advances allow parking fees to be collected much more efficiently than the old machines that asked you to feed in a bagful of coins.
Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research
NO: Charging to park in Balboa Park will generate less revenue than envisioned. Imposing more disincentives to use the already publicly financed park lessens the appeal for visiting the many museums and attractions. Voters fed up with the city’s never-ending quest to extract more money from the public rejected the proposed 1-cent sales tax increase last year. The city should stay within budget constraints instead of devising ever more ways to levy additional taxes for spending.
Norm Miller, University of San Diego
YES: There is no reason to delay Balboa Park parking fees that are paid by both residents and tourists. There should be at least one free day per week for those living in San Diego County, so that locals can avoid this charge, if desired. MTS (Routes 3 and/or 120) should also run through the park, making it easier for local access, and continue to run free shuttles from City College Transit Center during busy seasons.
David Ely, San Diego State University
YES: Given its size, the city is forced to pursue every possible approach to narrow the budget deficit. Charging for parking is unpopular, but the decision has already been made to charge Balboa Park visitors to park. The choice is between charging visitors to pay for parking earlier than planned or spending cuts. If moving up the start date will result in a smaller curtailment of services, implementing parking fees earlier is the better option.
Ray Major, economist
NO: Parking at Balboa Park has historically been free and businesses need time to adjust to the changes. However, tying the city’s ability to keep libraries and recreation centers open to this tax source is disingenuous. There is plenty of waste at the city that could be cut to make up for the shortfall. Any revenue collected from parking at Balboa Park should be reinvested in the park itself and not syphoned off for other uses.
Executives
Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health
YES: The decision was made to add parking meters at Balboa Park; starting six months earlier is irrelevant. The city has a budget challenge of its own making with pension and other costs. But rather than deal with that structural problem, every day there is another tax idea, which this parking charge amounts to. The city must manage costs — as difficult as that is to do politically — rather than searching for new ways to increase taxes.
Phil Blair, Manpower
YES: The need for the income is immediate, and the benefit of a long notice is not meaningful. People will either come to the park or not, paying for parking will not deter them. Beach parking is a similar situation.
Gary London, London Moeder Advisors
YES: Councilmember Elo-Rivera is right. If the idea is to cure a deficit and keep programs running, the city should take advantage of summer tourism season. A new parking plan can be accomplished in one month. My ideas? Move excess parking to the landfill area near Morley Field and shuttle visitors in. Also, charge for the zoo parking lot. There are a lot of downtown office buildings with empty parking spaces, as well.
Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates
YES: Paid parking could help address the city’s budget shortfall. Balboa Park’s parking lots reach high occupancy levels during peak periods, and charging for parking could encourage turnover and improve accessibility. No doubt, paid parking might deter some visitors and have an impact on some businesses, but collecting revenue sooner is critical. Let’s balance financial needs with community concerns by providing clear communication and thoughtful implementation to minimize disruptions.
Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere
NO: Imposing paid parking at Balboa Park could negatively impact the park’s museums and attractions. Depending on the cost, whether it’s hourly meters or managed by a parking company, both locals and tourists may become more selective about whether or how often they visit, potentially leading to a decline in business and city revenue. Rather than imposing additional costs on residents and tourists, which could have unintended consequences, the city should focus on cost-cutting and effective budgeting.
Not participating this week:Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and StrategyAustin Neudecker, Weave Growth
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