San Diego State University (SDSU) students, through the Sage Project and Dr. Justina Jose’s Public Administration 450 course on Fiscal and Policy Budgeting, partnered with leaders from the City of National City to address real-world challenges related to economic conditions, public finance, and infrastructure resilience. Through this collaboration, students conducted applied research to support city priorities and inform planning and decision making.
Over the course of the semester, students completed three assignments designed to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of National City’s community characteristics and financial capacity. Through analysis of demographic trends, revenue sources, and structural challenges, students gained valuable insight into the broader context in which local policies operate.
The first assignment focused on developing a socioeconomic profile of National City, examining demographics, income, employment, and housing conditions. Findings highlighted a diverse community facing economic challenges that limit residents’ ability to fund major infrastructure improvements. The second assignment involved an analysis of the City’s fiscal profile, revealing a reliance on sales and property taxes, relatively stable revenues, and recent budget surpluses, while also identifying vulnerabilities to economic downturns and limited revenue diversification.
Building on these insights, the final assignment evaluated funding options for seismic retrofitting, including fines and fees, intergovernmental grants, loans, taxes, and municipal bonds. Given the City’s socioeconomic constraints, and fiscal limitations, the report recommends a layered funding strategy centered on maximizing intergovernmental grants to ensure feasibility and equity while aligning with National City’s financial realities.