According to the auditor general in 1991, Illegal immigrants cost state AND local governments money: a total of approx $206 million (most other figures have merely been guesses). And again, this is divided between State AND local governments. However, A significant body of research (National Academy of Sciences, Public Policy institute, UC Davis, et al) shows that there is a "net plus" on the local economy. The main reason is that the majority of illegal immigrants actually pay social security and income taxes (state and federal), and they all pay sales taxes, and they contribute to property taxes in the form of rents paid for homes, and many pay property taxes directly, as many are actually home owners (which is legal, by the way). As far as San Diego government's inability to keep up the public facilities, there are other reasons which are factual with which very few argue. Standard and Poor suspended San Diego's credit rating in 2004 because an absence of a 2003 audit. That and federal investigations into the city finances at the time prevented the city from selling bonds, which is how most cities often finance roadworks, infrastructure, etc...Whereas there might actually be problems with illegal immigration, one of those problems certainly isn't (at least in San Diego) a drain on the local economy. Now, whether or not the quality of life is going down is certainly subjective, however, crime rate might be an indicator one could actually measure. In San Diego, total crimes per 1000 citizens were 77.9 in 1970, 80.77 in 1980, 90.82 in 1990. Since 1990 crime has gone down nearly every year. 2009's crime rate was 28.2! That's the lowest crime rate San Diego's had since 1963. If crime were the indicator, then quality of life is going up.
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