San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Passes FY2020-2022 Budget on August 26, 2020
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San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Passes FY2020-2022 Budget on August 26, 2020
The Budget and Appropriations Committee met on August 26, 2020, to consider the city's two-year budget for fiscal years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. The meeting, chaired by Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, included committee members Supervisors Jamana Walton, Raphael Mandelman, Hilary Ronin, and President Norman Yee. The committee recessed multiple times throughout the day, finally reconvening after midnight to pass the budget. The approved spending plan incorporates $42 million in additions over two years, focusing on restoring programs cut in the mayor's proposed budget, rental subsidies, targeted investments in Black communities, and COVID-19 response.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Carolyn Scott, an African American native of San Francisco, expressed support for passing $120 million for the Black community over two years, specifically for health emergency and redirecting funds from police to community-based resources.
- Shorea, director of the American Indian Cultural Good Put, commented on over $200,000 in funding cuts to vital American Indian organizations, stating she had not received responses from the mayor or board of supervisors.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Suspension of Financial Policy): Controller Ben Rosenfield explained that the city's budget includes $332 million in one-time revenues but only $89 million in one-time uses, requiring suspension of the financial policy that one-time revenues match one-time uses. Supervisor Ronin clarified that the strategy is prudent given potential new revenue from ballot measures in November. The committee supported the resolution.
- Fire Department: The committee agreed to accept the fire department's alternative reductions of $650,000 over two years in overtime and travel, rejecting the Budget and Legislative Analyst's (BLA) recommendation to cut funds for ladder trucks and command vehicles. President Yee expressed concern about overtime for mutual aid during wildfires but accepted the department's recommendation.
- Department of Public Health (DPH): Dr. Colfax and staff reported progress on mental health SF, including funding capital costs from business tax revenue and expanding crisis teams to 6 for 24/7 coverage, with a $11.4 million deficit in year three. On black maternal health, DPH committed $600,000 in new funding, including $200,000 for doula access and $200,000 for the abundant birth project. Supervisor Fewer requested a general fund investment. Supervisor Ronin proposed $3.5 million for bi-weekly testing at community learning hubs (half reimbursable by FEMA), which DPH agreed would help but noted the science is evolving. The committee also agreed to reject the BLA's recommendation to put $36 million for Black community investments on reserve, instead requiring a spending plan and reports to the board.
- Attrition Savings: The controller reported that a full analysis of department salary budget trends was not yet completed but would be provided later in the day.
- Budget Passage: After midnight, the committee voted to approve the budget (items 1, 2, and 3) with amendments as outlined in the Board of Supervisors Budget Spending Plan, including technical adjustments and administrative provisions. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 200917 (suspension of financial policy) approved with a positive recommendation.
- Budget and Appropriation Ordinance (200567) and Annual Salary Ordinance (200568) amended to reflect the committee's spending plan, which includes $42 million in additional funding over two years for program restorations, rental subsidies, COVID-19 response, and targeted investments in Black communities.
- The committee authorized the controller to make necessary adjustments and forwarded the items to the Board of Supervisors for the September 15, 2020 meeting with a positive recommendation.
- The $36 million for Black community investments will not be placed on reserve; instead, the Human Rights Commission will provide a spending plan and regular expenditure reports to the board.
- The committee accepted the fire department's alternative savings of $650,000 in overtime and travel cuts.
- The committee supported DPH's $600,000 investment in black maternal health and agreed to consider $3.5 million for community hub testing as part of ongoing budget discussions.
Meeting Transcript
This is the August 26, 2020, regular budget and appropriations committee meeting. I am Sandra Lee Fear, Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I'm joined by committee members, Supervisor Jamana Walton, Raphael Mandarin, Hilary Ronin, and President Norman Yee. Our clerk is Ms. Linda Wong, assisted today by several other staff from the clerk's office. I would like to thank Jason Goldhammer from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Madam Clerk, do we have any announcements? Yes, Madam Chair. Due to the COVID 19th health emergency and to protect board members, city employees, and the public, the Board of Supervisors, Legislative Chamber, and Committee Room are closed. However, members will be participating in the meeting remotely. This precaution is taken pursuant to the various local state and federal orders, declaration and directives. Committee members will attend the meeting through video conference and participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they were physically present. Public comments will be available on each item on this agenda. Both Channel 26 NSFGTV.org are streaming the number across the screen. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak. Comments or opportunity to speak during public comment period are available via phone call by calling 415 655 0001. Again, 415-655-0001. Meeting ID 146 571 8890. Again, 146571 8890. Then press pound twice. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up, style star three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television or radio. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either of the following ways. Email to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at L I N D A dot W O N G at SFGO VRG or through the Board of Supervisors Budget Information website at WW.org slash budget information. And by selecting the provide budget comment button, if you submit public comments via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and will be included as part of the official file. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors Agenda of September 15, unless otherwise stated. Thank you very much. Can you please call them items one, two, and three together? Yes. Item number one resolution suspending the city financial policy and administrative post section 10.61 to 2022 to authorize the city to spend selected non-recurring revenues described in that policy on recurring expenditures. Item number two, budget and appropriation ordinance, appropriating all estimated receipts and all estimated expenditures for Department of the City as of July 31st, 2020 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Item number three, annual salary ordinance, enumerating position in the annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022, continuing creating or establishing these positions. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on these items, you call 415-655-0001. Meeting ID 146-571-8890, then press pound twice. If you have not already done so, please style star three to line up to speak. Assistant prompt will indicate you have raised your hand. Please wait until the system indicates you have been muted and you may begin your comments. Thank you very much, Vener Clerk. Can you please open up public comment for items 1, 2, and 3? All speakers will be allowed at one minute. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Yes, Madam Chair. Operation is checking to see if there are any callers in the queue. Operations, please let us know if there are callers set already. If you have not already done so, please press star three to be added to the queue. For those already on hold, please continue to wait until the system indicates you have been unmuted. Mr. Ku, please let us know if there are callers who wish to comment on items one, two, and three. Yes, we have two callers in the queue.
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