San Francisco BOS Budget and Appropriations Committee Recessed Meeting – June 24, 2021

This was the June 24, 2021 Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting, chaired by Supervisor Matt Haney and including President Walton, Supervisors Ronen, Safai, and Marr. The committee reviewed proposed budgets for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 for multiple city departments, hearing from department heads and the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA). Public comment was deferred to a dedicated day on June 25, 2021.

Discussion Items

Juvenile Probation Department

• BLA Recommendations: $120,000 in ongoing savings for FY21-22, plus $3,607 in prior-year encumbrances closed. FY22-23: $120,000 ongoing reductions. The department agreed with the recommendations.
• Discussion: President Walton raised concerns about closing juvenile hall and questioned the need for a 5.5% budget increase ($2.28 million) while closing the facility. She suggested placing funds in reserve. Chief Miller noted that state realignment funding ($795,000 in year one, $2.35 million in year two) is not intended for the hall but for a new service model. Overtime was discussed: budgeted at about $820,000 for the hall, with reductions of $325,000 from the prior year. Chief Miller explained that COVID-19 protocols require multiple units to remain open even with low populations.

Adult Probation Department

• BLA Recommendations: $104,811 in FY21-22 savings ($10,000 ongoing, $94,811 one-time), plus $7,650 in prior-year encumbrances. FY22-23: $10,000 ongoing reductions. Department agreed.
• Discussion: Supervisor Walton questioned a $94,811 cut to a new pilot program due to a delayed start (August 1). Chief Fletcher confirmed the program would ramp up quickly, but the committee noted the dollars could be placed in reserve. Supervisor Marr asked about staffing increases: the department has 154 FTEs for ~6,000 clients, with 62 case-carrying officers. Caseloads have been stable due to high-risk cases.

Superior Court

• BLA Recommendations: $50,000 ongoing savings each year. Department agreed.

Department of Emergency Management (DEM)

• BLA Recommendations: $1,036,441 in FY21-22 ($150,000 ongoing, $886,441 one-time). FY22-23: $100,000 ongoing. Department agreed.
• Discussion: Supervisor Ronen confirmed that a new position to coordinate street teams (over a dozen) remains in the budget.

Department of Police Accountability (DPA)

• BLA Recommendations: $25,000 one-time reduction in FY21-22; no cuts in FY22-23. Department agreed.

Public Defender’s Office

• BLA Recommendations: $40,000 in FY21-22 ($13,000 ongoing, $27,000 one-time), plus $29,608 in prior-year encumbrances. FY22-23: $13,000 ongoing. Department agreed.

District Attorney’s Office

• BLA Recommendations: $26,774 one-time in FY21-22, plus $9,922 in prior-year encumbrances. No cuts in FY22-23. Department agreed.
• Discussion: Supervisor Ronen jokingly asked if BLA recommended eliminating the chief of staff’s position.

Sheriff’s Department

• BLA Recommendations: $554,114 in FY21-22 ($462,190 ongoing, $91,924 one-time), plus $103,145 in prior-year encumbrances. FY22-23: $464,782 ongoing. Department agreed.
• Discussion: Chair Haney asked about reduction in overtime from $25.1 million to $7.6 million in the current year due to CJ4 closure. CFO Kristen Holzhauser explained that FTE reductions (24 sworn positions and an overtime reduction equivalent to 84 FTEs) total 108 FTEs. The proposed budget adds $25 million largely for one-time capital costs ($11M) and COLA. Supervisor Marr inquired about 104 sworn vacancies (98 in jails, 23 elsewhere). The sheriff plans to fill 45 positions in the next fiscal year. Regarding DPH security replacement, 24 sworn positions will be reduced by March 2022, saving $1M in FY21-22 and $4M in FY22-23.

Fire Department

• BLA Recommendations: $560,146 in FY21-22 ($303,041 ongoing, $257,105 one-time), plus $5.8 million one-time reserves. FY22-23: $301,642 ongoing. Department agreed on technical cuts.
• Discussion: The BLA outlined policy recommendations regarding new street teams (Street Wellness Response Team, Street Opioid Response Team, Street Crisis Response Team, and Community Paramedicine management). Total additional funding for these programs: $6.25 million in FY21-22, $7.07 million in FY22-23. The BLA recommended the board request an update by October 1, 2021, and consider a performance audit of all street response teams. Supervisor Safai highlighted that paramedic staffing has not increased since 2015 despite a 16% rise in calls. Fire Chief Nicholson confirmed the new teams will be overseen by Assistant Deputy Chief Simon Pang. Supervisor Ronen noted the need for a coordinated process among the many street teams, with DEM hosting a coordination role. The chief agreed to quarterly reports and an audit.

Police Department

• BLA Recommendations: $2.6 million in reductions for FY21-22 (0.45% of general fund) and $390,000 for FY22-23. The department did not agree.
• Discussion: Chief Scott argued the cuts would harm reform efforts, hiring (goal of 100 new officers per year to offset attrition of ~100), and public safety due to a 156% increase in shootings and rising crime. BLA’s Nicholas Minard stated the cuts are reasonable and won’t affect services.
• Committee Members:
  • President Walton: Supported BLA cuts but also supported funding academies to maintain staffing. Noted the $40M baseline cut shifted to Dream Keeper initiative.
  • Supervisor Safai: Agreed with BLA cuts; expressed concern about overtime for side shows and demonstrations.
  • Supervisor Ronen: Questioned whether overtime and academy requests account for planned alternatives to policing (SCRT, wellness teams). Overtime budgeted at $15.6 million for FY21-22 and FY22-23. She noted that 51 officer FTEs respond to priority D calls and 44 to priority C calls (mental health/homelessness), arguing that as alternatives expand, these demands should decrease.
  • Supervisor Preston: Called for substantial cuts (10% reduction), citing Prop E allowing staffing flexibility, and suggested eliminating 5 sworn positions, cutting overtime by 50%, and disbanding the mounted unit ($1M/year).
• BLA Clarification: Chair Haney asked about year-two increases; CFO Leong explained that annualization of the 100 recruits (27.5 FTEs in year one) and COLAs drive the increase. The general fund would increase from $573.8M (FY21) to about $574.5M under BLA cuts (a net increase of ~$0.7M).

Key Outcomes

• The committee expressed intent to accept the BLA’s recommendations for Juvenile Probation, Adult Probation, Superior Court, DEM, DPA, Public Defender, DA, Sheriff, and Fire Department (technical recommendations).
• For the Police Department, the committee accepted the BLA’s recommendations despite the chief’s opposition, but indicated further discussion would occur on June 25 and Monday.
• The meeting recessed to June 25, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. for public comment and further action.