2019: Jim Desmond Spent More Than $200,000 In Taxpayer Funds To Remodel His Offices, Far Exceeding The Expenses Of Other Supervisors, Which Drew Criticism Of His Self-Styled Fiscal Conservatism

2019: Desmond Budgeted $240,000 To Remodel And Renovate His Downtown And District Offices In His First Five Months In Office

2019: Desmond Budgeted $240,000 To Remodel And Renovate His Downtown And District Office Space In His First Five Months In Office As County Supervisor. “County Supervisor Jim Desmond's new front office downtown is modest looking by any measure. There's a medium-sized sofa, a coffee table, a standard wooden desk, a few chairs, some fresh paint, a TV and generic, gray carpeting. His district office in Vista, while still being remodeled, is expected to be similarly utilitarian, his staff says. Though his new offices are nothing to gawk at, their potential price tag is more interesting. Desmond budgeted $240,000 to remodel and renovate his downtown and district office space, according to spending records during his first five months in office. The final cost may come under budget, he said.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

• San Diego Union-Tribune Headline: “Supervisor Budgets $240,000 For Office Furniture, Remodeling.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond’s $240,000 Budget Far Exceeded What Other County Supervisors Spent On Office Improvements

Desmond’s $240,000 Budget Far Exceeded What Other County Supervisors Spent On Office Improvements In Recent Years. “Desmond budgeted $240,000 to remodel and renovate his downtown and district office space, according to spending records during his first five months in office. The final cost may come under budget, he said. So far, it far exceeds how much other county supervisors have spent on office improvements this year and in recent years, according to county records.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Chairwoman Dianne Jacob Budgeted $6,672 For Improvements To Her Chief Of Staff’s Office. “Desmond's offices also cost more than most supervisors' because he is one of only two who use a field office and a downtown office. The other supervisors, except for Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, represent districts that are close enough for them to serve from one office downtown. […] Fellow Supervisor Nathan Fletcher who, like Desmond, took office in January, budgeted $18,000 for office furniture and Jacob budgeted $6,672 for improvements to her chief of staff's office.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher Budgeted $18,000 For Office Furniture. “Desmond's offices also cost more than most supervisors' because he is one of only two who use a field office and a downtown office. The other supervisors, except for Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, represent districts that are close enough for them to serve from one office downtown. […] Fellow Supervisor Nathan Fletcher who, like Desmond, took office in January, budgeted $18,000 for office furniture and Jacob budgeted $6,672 for improvements to her chief of staff's office.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Supervisor Greg Cox Spent $55,049 On Office Renovations. “Supervisor Greg Cox spent $55,049 on office renovations, including asbestos removal, electrical work and furniture for staff. In 2016 Cox spent $12,908 on office furniture and $796 on paint for his old office. Since then he moved into former Supervisor Bill Horn's office, which hadn't been upgraded in nearly 30 years, a Cox spokesman said. Fletcher is in Cox's old office, while Desmond is in former Supervisor Ron Roberts' space.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

• 2016: Supervisor Cox Spent $12,908 On Office Furniture And $796 On Paint For His Old Office. “Supervisor Greg Cox spent $55,049 on office renovations, including asbestos removal, electrical work and furniture for staff. In 2016 Cox spent $12,908 on office furniture and $796 on paint for his old office. Since then he moved into former Supervisor Bill Horn's office, which hadn't been upgraded in nearly 30 years, a Cox spokesman said. Fletcher is in Cox's old office, while Desmond is in former Supervisor Ron Roberts' space.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

2017: Supervisor Gaspar Spent $10,262 To Renovate The Space Where Her Executive Assistant Worked. “Supervisor Kristin Gaspar has not bought new furniture or office improvements since January, county documents show. A spokesperson for Gaspar said she spent $10,262 when she came into office in 2017 to renovate the space where her executive assistant worked. That included construction, shades, paint, and after-hours charges for workers.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Said The Upgrades Were Long Overdue And Said He Supported Looking For Ways To Lower Costs In The Future

San Diego Union-Tribune: “Desmond Said In An Interview That He Has Tried To Save Money And He Is Frustrated With The Cost, But The Upgrades Are Long Overdue.” “Desmond said in an interview that he has tried to save money and he is frustrated with the cost, but the upgrades are long overdue. ‘I inherited two offices, one in downtown San Diego and the other in the Vista County Courthouse,’ Desmond said. ‘Both offices had the same carpet and paint for over two decades. The downtown office update, which ran into asbestos, included updating mine and three staff offices. The North County Vista office is larger with a conference room, waiting room, bathroom and three staff offices. I had to use county-only union laborers and a single source furniture vendor.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Said He Was Focused On Other Issues But In The Future Would Be In Favor Of Looking For Ways To Lower Costs For Office Projects. “Desmond said he's currently focused on other issues, but in the future he'd be in favor of looking for ways to lower the costs for office projects like his. ‘I’d like to see those costs come down and if there’s a way to do that I think that might be an endeavor in the future,’ he said.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Was One Of Two Supervisors Who Used A Field Office And Downtown Office. “Desmond's offices also cost more than most supervisors' because he is one of only two who use a field office and a downtown office. The other supervisors, except for Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, represent districts that are close enough for them to serve from one office downtown.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Investigation Included A Photo Of Desmond’s Office With Cost Labels And Charts Detailing His Expenses

The San Diego Union-Tribune Investigation Into Desmond’s Spending Included A Photo Of Desmond’s Office With Cost Labels. [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Image: see original report, p. 32

[San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Spent Most Of The Remodeling Money On Furniture Purchases And Construction Costs. [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Image: see original report, p. 32

[San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Bought Furniture At The Upper, Middle, And Low Ends Of The Price Range Available. [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Image: see original report, p. 33

[San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Desmond Bought Furniture With Prices Similar To What Was Available Online. [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

Image: see original report, p. 33

[San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/21/19]

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, Which Previously Endorsed Desmond For Supervisor, Criticized Him For Running Up His Renovation Budget

2019: The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, Which Previously Endorsed Desmond For Supervisor, Said It Was “Difficult To Square” His Self-Styled Fiscal Conservatism With His Renovation Budget. “In 2018, The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board endorsed San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond’s bid for the county supervisor seat held-by termed-out Supervisor Bill Horn in part because of the nuanced arguments he made about the importance of the county maintaining healthy fiscal reserves. Desmond, a Republican, branded himself a fiscal conservative in his April interview with the board. But it is difficult to square this self-depiction with Desmond’s decision to budget $240,000 in taxpayer funds to remodel and renovate his downtown and district office spaces. That’s far more than was budgeted for similar work by other supervisors combined. Desmond said he’s frustrated by the expense and that his furniture options and ability to control labor costs are limited by county rules.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, Editorial, 6/21/19]

• San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board Headline: “Supervisor Desmond Invites Cynicism With His Spending On His Offices.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, Editorial, 6/21/19]

San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board: “A Self-Proclaimed Fiscal Conservative Who Runs Up Bills Like This Soon After Taking Office Invites Voter Cynicism.” “There will be those who say if the work had to be done, it had to be done, and will give Desmond a pass. But symbolism matters. A self-proclaimed fiscal conservative who runs up bills like this soon after taking office invites voter cynicism. Whether or not Desmond deserves this cynicism, it’s a safe bet he’ll be taking potshots over his costly remodeling for years to come.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, Editorial, 6/21/19]