A judge on Tuesday rejected a union-backed attempt to halt a measure that curbs pensions for San Diego city workers. It may take effect next month.

The pensions of current public employees have long been generally considered untouchable. Politicians now say those obligations are trumped by the need to provide for the public's health and safety.

Proposals cutting retirement benefits for government workers have emboldened advocates seeking to curb state and city pensions across the nation.

Voters in San Diego and San Jose favored cuts to public retirement plan benefits, a move supporters say will lead to other national ballot initiatives.

Ballot measures Tuesday in San Diego and San Jose are the most sweeping yet to cut pensions for government workers, not just for new hires.

San Diego has bounced back, but a central question driving budget debates at City Hall is the same: How should it tackle ballooning public pensions?