San Diego Opera officials sought government grants amid financial troubles

San Diego Opera officials seeking millions in government grants painted a picture of financial health over the past few years — a time during which financial troubles were well known inside the organization.

In a 2012 application to the city of San Diego the opera noted — as it did in each year the company sought funding — that the organization had a balanced budget for 25 years and that the opera was in “remarkably excellent fiscal health.”

Now preparing for shutdown with funds near complete depletion, the group's leaders say they knew of financial troubles internally for years.