San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Special Meeting – June 13, 2024

The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, met on June 13, 2024, to consider the Mayor's proposed budget for fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, hear presentations from numerous city departments, and act on related legislation. The meeting ran from approximately 10:15 AM to well into the evening, with public comment on multiple items.

Department Presentations

• Asian Art Museum: Director Jay Shue reported a city general fund allocation of $11.99 million (total budget $33 million). He noted a 10% reduction in city staffing since FY 2019 and requested an additional $1.7 million to restore security, life safety, and building maintenance. The committee expressed gratitude but noted fiscal constraints.

• Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco: CFO Jason Seifer presented a total budget of $84 million, with 20% from general fund. The museums served 1.3 million visitors in 2023, with 577,000 free Saturday visits since 2019. Supervisor Melgar praised the museums' recovery post-pandemic.

• Academy of Sciences: CFO Jim Gohari highlighted a city budget of $7.7 million (total $80 million). The Academy faces a structural deficit and is cutting teacher professional development and the Bayview Science Institute (costing $200,000 from the Academy). Supervisors Walton and Melgar expressed concern about the cuts and urged better partnership with the SFPUC and respect for union workers.

• War Memorial: Managing Director Kate Sofis reported 800,000 visitors across venues, supporting 11,500 jobs. The department is deferring capital projects and relying on 85% general fund support.

• Arts Commission: Director Ralph Remington noted $17.2 million in grants to 101 nonprofits and 84 individual artists, and 203 art vendor licenses. Supervisor Melgar raised concerns about communication with communities regarding seismic retrofits at Mission Cultural Center and African American Arts and Culture Complex.

• Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF): Director Maria Sue presented a $188 million operating budget (down from $212 million). The mayor added $11 million to expand grants, but state and federal grants decreased by $6 million. Supervisors Walton and Melgar worried about the impact on youth services, including food programs and juvenile justice.

• Department on the Status of Women: Director Kimberly Ellis outlined a shift from grant-making to a watchdog role. The department's city grants fell from $13 million to $1 million, with remaining $800,000 for mental health initiatives. She highlighted San Francisco's poor rankings on gender equity (58th out of 58 in female state representation).

• Human Rights Commission: Director Sheryl Davis reported a 20% citywide cut to the Dreamkeeper Initiative (approximately $10–15 million over two years). She requested a higher classification for the Office of Racial Equity position. Chair Chan questioned the efficiency of the SHARP program.

• Recreation and Park Department: Director Antonio Guerra presented a budget with $8.5 million in reductions, including elimination of 5 positions and 50 unfunded FTEs. The department faces $1 million in mid-year cuts and loss of soda tax funding. Items 4–6 (grant acceptances) were discussed.

• Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD): Director Sarah Dennis Phillips reported $21.1 million in reductions, including $9.6 million in workforce development. Chair Chan questioned the allocation of $2 million for a Powell Street light show while cutting workforce programs. Supervisor Melgar called for a comprehensive downtown recovery plan.

• Department of Public Health (DPH): Director Grant Colfax presented a $3.2 billion budget with $47 million general fund decrease. DPH filled 96.8% of positions, with RN vacancies down 75%. Reductions include $3 million in healthy community grants (soda tax) and $2.5 million in street violence intervention. The committee forwarded items 7–10 (patient rates, Planned Parenthood grant, Maddy fund repeal).

• Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH): Director Shireen McSpadden reported an $846.8 million budget for FY 2024–25, with $50.1 million for family homelessness (Safer Families initiative). The trailing legislation (items 11 and 12) allows reallocation of $13.676 million in interest from the Our City, Our Home fund and lifts the 12% cap on short-term rental subsidies. The committee amended item 11 to correct a dollar amount.

• Department of Early Childhood (DEC): Director Ingrid Mejia presented a $336.6 million budget, expanding eligibility to 150% AMI. Item 13 proposes freezing the baseline for early care and education spending and using interest from the Babies and Families First Fund to offset general fund obligations. Public comment overwhelmingly opposed the diversion of Prop C funds.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Over 50 speakers addressed the committee, many opposing the proposed ordinance to use Baby Prop C interest for other purposes (item 13). Parents, educators, and advocates urged preservation of funds for early childhood education, arguing that the city should use reserves instead of cutting child care.
• Other speakers opposed cuts to workforce development, homeless services, soda tax programs, and community-based organizations serving Latino, Pacific Islander, and Black communities. Specific concerns were raised about DCYF reductions, the loss of the Bayview Science Institute, and cuts to the Street Violence Intervention Program.

Key Outcomes

• Items 4 and 5 (Rec and Park grants: EV chargers and habitat conservation): Forwarded to the July 9 full board with positive recommendation.
• Item 6 (USDA Forest Service reforestation grant): Continued to the call of the chair.
• Items 7–10 (DPH patient rates, Planned Parenthood grant, Maddy fund repeal, and recurring grants): Forwarded to the July 9 full board with positive recommendation.
• Item 11 (Our City, Our Home fund interest reallocation): Amended on page 4 to correct a dollar amount, then forwarded to the July 9 full board.
• Item 12 (HSH fund expenditure plan): Forwarded to the July 9 full board.
• Item 13 (Early care and education baseline modification): Continued to the call of the chair after a motion by Supervisor Melgar, who noted the need for further community discussion and amendments.
• Items 1–3 (Mayor's proposed budget, appropriation ordinance, salary ordinance): Continued to the June 14 meeting of the committee.