SAN DIEGO -- San Francisco Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom will conduct the 18th in a series of what his campaign is calling "conversations about California's future" Saturday night at Clairemont High School.

Newsom will give a brief overview of the state's problems, then field questions from the audience for the remainder of the approximately 90-minute town hall meeting, according to Yusef Robb, a communications adviser with the Newsom campaign.

The forum is part of an effort by his campaign "to be stepping up the outreach in the southern part of the state... to get a chance to dialogue and have the opportunity to discuss what's on people's minds and allow me the opportunity to introduce myself," Newsom told City News Service.

The forums are being held mostly at schools or community colleges in an effort "to connect the education message," Newsom said.

Newsom said he is conducting "a campaign of ideas."

"We're focused on issues," Newsom said. "We are specifically discussing health care reform, education reform, environmental stewardship and obviously the large issue that transcends all others... the economy and the challenges in Sacramento that relate to governance."

When asked what he would do to solve the state's budget crisis, Newsom responded, "I've made it clear offering sideline proposals I don't think is particularly advantageous without the capacity of getting down and sitting with department heads and sitting with staff for months on end as I've done as mayor of San Francisco.

"The closest approximation to a fair answer to that question is look what we've done in San Francisco."

Newsom then boasted of a budget for the current fiscal year with no layoffs of police officers, firefighters or nurses and an expansion of the city's universal health care and preschool programs.

"It's all relative because of the economic challenge, but people are reasonably satisfied," said Newsom, who is expected to face Attorney General Jerry Brown in next June's Democratic gubernatorial primary. "We didn't raise taxes and we didn't borrow. Our bond rating went up in December as the state's dropped."

To solve the current state budget crisis, Newsom said an oil severance tax and an increase in the tobacco tax "need to be on the table," but he does not believe that increasing taxes is the best long-term solution.

"My foundational principle is I don't think we're in a position to advocate for a higher income tax in this state," Newsom said. "We're at a point that has diminishing returns."

Newsom said in his campaign travels throughout the state, he has experienced a "growing debate" over a split-roll property tax system, which would tax commercial property at a higher rate than homes.

"I think it's interesting that there's that much debate," Newsom said. "I did not anticipate that when I started six months ago. It's an important debate to have."

Newsom said the split roll "needs to be put in the context of larger reforms."

"I'm not a tax and spend Democrat," said Newsom, who started several businesses before becoming a member of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.

"You can't be pro-job and anti-business. I'm sensitive to the business concerns as it relates to the split roll, but I'm also sensitive to our ability the navigate the structural budget imbalance. In combination with other things, it's a worthwhile debate."

Changing the provisions of Proposition 13 for residential property, "has not come up, even in the most progressive communities, from Santa Monica to Santa Cruz," Newsom said.

Before the town hall meeting, Newsom is set to join Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, to discuss issues faced by homeless veterans and how to solve them and march in the San Diego Pride Parade.