Good uh good afternoon.

Welcome to the June 8th, 2022 budget and appropriations committee meeting.

I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronin, Chair of the Committee.

I'm joined by committee members Gordon Mark, Hani Chan.

Uh we will be joined shortly by Vice Chair Ashasa Faii and by President and President Walton.

I'm is here.

Our clerk is Brent Halipa, and I'd like to thank Michael Balthasar from SUPGUV TV for broadcasting this meeting.

Mr.

Clerk, do you have any announcements?

Uh yes, madam chair.

With our return to the chamber, just a friendly reminder for those in attendance uh to please to make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

Also kindly refrain from any flash photography.

Uh the board uh pardon the board of supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone.

The board recognizes that equitable public access, his essential and will be taking public comment as follows.

First public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda.

Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line.

For those watching either channels 2678 or 99 and sfgovtv.org.

The public comment number is uh streaming across the screen.

That number is 415 65501.

Again, that's 415 65501.

Then enter the meeting ID of 2481 5424313, then press pound and then pound again.

Uh when connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in listening mode only.

Uh, when your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, uh, those joining us in person should line up to speak.

Hand those on the telephone should dial star three to be added to the speaker line.

Uh if you're on your telephone, please remember to turn down your TV, hand all listening devices you may be using.

As previously mentioned, we will take public comment from those attending in person first, and then we'll go to our public comment telephone line.

Alternatively, you may submit the public comment uh in writing in either of the following ways.

Email them to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at br ENT dot J A L I P A HET SFGO V dot O R G.

If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the official file.

You may also send your written comments via U.S.

Postal Service to our office and city hall.

That's one Dr.

Carlton B.

Goodlick Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102.

And finally, Madam Chair, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of June 14th, unless otherwise stated.

Thank you so much.

Can you please read item number one?

Yes, madam chair.

Item number one uh is a motion authorizing the clerk of the board of supervisors to take all administrative steps to amend the budget and legislative analyst services contract with Harvey M.

Rose Associates LLC for additional work under the existing scope of services to the extent that funds uh are appropriated for that purpose.

Uh members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this motion uh should call 415-655-0001.

The meeting ID again is 2481-542-4313, then press pound twice if you haven't already done so.

Dial star three to lineup to speak.

Assistant prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand.

Please wait until the system indicates you have been unmuted.

And you may begin your comments.

Madam Chair.

Thank you so much, and thank you, uh, Supervisor Preston for joining us and presenting on this item.

Thank you, Chair Ronan and committee members, and and really thank you all so much, especially during this budget season for uh calendaring this item.

And uh I am asking for your support today of a motion to authorize uh the clerk of the board to amend the current budget budget and legislative analyst services contract to allow for additional work under the existing scope of services.

Uh the proposal would enable the board to focus more proactively on good government research, program audits, reports, recommendations, and uh referrals.

Currently, the BLA, as you know, colleagues, conducts uh at least two program audits uh annually, issues reports uh that members of the board of supervisors request and analyzes and makes recommendations regarding legislation with budgetary impact.

Uh despite the growth of the city's budget over the years, up to now in the neighborhood of uh 14 billion dollars uh uh for the year, um, the BLA's capacity uh and the funding for the BLA has not increased over that uh decade.

Um it's it it has been completely flat over the over the last uh 10 years.

Um as a result, uh report reports and audits uh can take many months, in some cases uh up to a year, um, and the BLA has to strictly limit the number of program audits uh that it can perform.

I I believe at a time of increasing uh revelations of government corruption and misconduct, especially over the last couple years, uh, that the Board of Supervisors with the help of the BLA must be in a stronger position to proactively address these issues.

Uh the BLA is in a unique position to see patterns and trends uh and potential red flags given its ongoing audit and budget work.

Adding capacity to the BLA will enable the board to more proactively prevent violations of the public trust.

The projected costs for the expansion are 1.1 million annually, covering an anticipated supervisory supervisory position uh and three investigators or analysts and associated costs.

But I want to be clear this motion does not compel the board uh to allocate these funds.