Budget and Appropriations Committee Special Meeting – June 13, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Budget and Appropriations Committee Special Meeting – June 13, 2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Appropriations Committee held a special meeting on Friday, June 13, 2025, starting at approximately 9:15 AM. The committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, with Vice Chair Matt Dorsey and members Joan Engardio, Shamann Walton, and President Rafael Mandelman (who joined later), considered the Mayor's proposed budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, along with several related ordinances. The meeting began with items related to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), then proceeded to department budget hearings for the Police Department, City Attorney, Superior Court, Environment, Law Library, Public Library, Retirement System, Rent Board, Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Juvenile Probation, Adult Probation, Public Defender, Fire Department, Sheriff's Department, Department of Police Accountability (DPA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and District Attorney. Public comment was taken on specific items and on the overall budget. The committee voted to forward several ordinances to the full board and continued the main budget hearing to June 18, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- SFPUC Items (6‑8): Matt Harry, water quality technician and union delegate, expressed concerns about staffing shortages, temporary exempt positions, and excessive vacancies, urging the city to staff up.
- Library Trailing Legislation (Item 4): Emily Garvey (Executive Director, Friends of the SF Public Library) and Kate Lazarus (board member) spoke in support of the grant, highlighting programs like One City One Book and Summer Stride.
- Public Defender Trailing Legislation (Item 5): No public speakers; comment closed.
- General Budget (Items 1‑3): Several speakers addressed the committee:
- Peter Warfield (Library Users Association) criticized library service inequities.
- Brent Bayan (DPA investigator, TWU Local 200) opposed DPA layoffs, noting the loss of a senior investigator.
- A second speaker from DPA urged retention of investigative positions to meet legal timelines.
- A speaker questioned reallocation of resources away from investigators.
- Michelle Wright (SEIU 1021) requested restoration of a museum conservator position at the Asian Art Museum.
- A speaker from the Department of Environment urged no layoffs in FY2026-2027.
- Anya Warley Zigman (People's Budget Coalition) noted that increases in public safety department budgets could cover all proposed cuts elsewhere.
Discussion Items
SFPUC Budget Adjustments (Items 6‑8)
Deputy General Manager Ron Flynn and Budget Director Anna Dooning presented. The SFPUC is in the second year of a fixed two-year budget (operating $2.1 billion, capital $1.6 billion). They requested:
- Item 6: De‑appropriation of $86,916 from the capital budget (no project changes).
- Item 7: Authorization to issue up to $1.054 billion in water revenue bonds, with a $14.1 million increase in debt capacity.
- Item 8: De‑appropriation of $12,990,064 from the operating budget. The Budget Legislative Analyst (BLA) recommended a technical amendment to clarify the bond increase. The committee voted unanimously (4‑0) to adopt the amendment and then unanimously to forward all three items to the July 8 full board meeting.
Department Budget Hearings
Police Department (SFPD): Acting Chief Paul Yip presented. Violent crime down 16.6% year‑to‑date; property crime down 28.6%. Sworn staffing remains well below baseline; overtime budget increased to $71 million, but projected spending around $97 million. The department plans a reserve officer program and special event officers to reduce overtime. Six civilian layoffs and 25 FTE deletions (mostly vacant) were proposed. Questions focused on overtime accountability, civilianization, recruitment (4,500 applicants projected; 30,000 needed long‑term), and the Office of Victims' Services. No formal vote was taken on the police budget as part of the overall hearing.
City Attorney: David Chu presented. The office has devoted nearly 8,000 hours this year to federal litigation, filing six lawsuits. The federal administration poses threats to funding; $1 million in the mayor's reserve would fund three new positions. The proposed budget is $125 million. No questions were raised by supervisors.
Superior Court: Executive Officer Brandon Riley discussed the civil grand jury ($250,000 budget) and indigent defense administration ($10.048 million, a $248,000 increase). Due to public defender unavailability, 25% of new criminal cases go to the conflict panel. Court may need a supplemental if unavailability continues. COVID backlog eliminated.
Environment Department: Director Tyrone Ju reported a 60% general fund cut over two years. Year one absorbed through program restructuring, but year two would force layoffs and cessation of climate action plan, building electrification, and EV work. The department has won $84 million in grants since 2022, but $39 million are at risk due to federal changes. The Climate Equity Hub, funded by the board, would be zeroed out. President Mandelman expressed alarm and commitment to sustain the work.
Law Library: Director Diane Rodriguez presented a budget $45,000 less than FY24‑25. The library has 9 staff, down from 12 pre‑pandemic. No questions.
Public Library: Director Michael Lambert presented. The budget maintains 1,400 weekly hours across 28 branches and continues the Ocean View Branch project. No personnel reductions. The library is on track for a third consecutive circulation record. The committee later voted to forward the Friends grant ($1,072,600) as recommended.
Retirement System (SFERS): CEO Alison Romano reported 97% funded status, $36.6 billion in assets. Proposed budget $55.7 million, no FTE changes. Prepayment of contributions saves the general fund $23 million annually. No questions.
Rent Board: Executive Director Christina Varner presented. Fee‑supported department with 50 FTEs, five vacancies. Budget increases due to salary and fringe. No layoffs. Inventory of housing units improving.
Department of Emergency Management (DEM): Director Mary Ellen Carroll presented. Proposed budget $161 million. 18 position changes (10 filled positions eliminated, 8 vacant). New positions for neighborhood street team leads. Overtime and 911 dispatch improvements; three dispatcher academies per year. Questions about street team hiring versus core mission concerns. No vote.
Juvenile Probation: Chief David Miller reported no layoffs; 65 positions eliminated over five years via attrition. Proposed budget uses state funds for DJJ realignment. Caseloads increasing; facility redesign estimated $200 million. Discussion about capital planning.
Adult Probation: Chief presented a $62 million budget. 14 vacant FTE deletions; no layoffs of filled positions. One new position requested for Prop 36 preparedness. Caseloads vary by risk (26 to 121). Mobile probation van launching late August.
Public Defender: Mano Rajou reported high caseloads, with 40% increase in active cases over five years. Office declared unavailability on a percentage of cases; estimated cost to city of conflict panel is $5 million per year if continued. Trailing legislation (Item 5) accepts a $3.4 million grant from Crankstart Foundation for four immigration defense positions. Committee unanimously forwarded the ordinance to full board.
Fire Department: Chief Dean Crispin presented a $554 million budget. No cuts to frontline staff. Six civilian positions eliminated (fire protection engineers, IT, facilities intake). Four firefighter academies planned over two years. Overtime improving. Fleet aging; 70% of apparatus over 20 years old. Committee praised department's lean management.
Sheriff's Department: Sheriff Paul Miyamoto reported 76% sworn staffing, no layoffs. Recruiting improved; 91 new deputies hired this year. Overtime budget increased to $31 million. Body cameras and jail management system upgrades funded. Discussion on jail programming re‑start after COVID.
Department of Police Accountability (DPA): Director Paul Henderson reported a 40% workforce reduction over six years (22.32 positions). Proposed cuts of four positions, including three investigators. DPA argued these cuts are disproportionate and may violate charter mandates. Public comment echoed concerns. Committee members expressed need for adequate oversight.
Office of the Inspector General (OIG): Marshall Kine presented. Budget reduction of ~$209,000; only one position (board secretary) at risk. Without it, the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board cannot function. The office has no inspector general currently. Committee discussed charter compliance and possible solutions.
District Attorney: Brooke Jenkins presented a $96.7 million budget, a 3.3% increase driven by salary and fringe. Caseloads rising: felony filings up to 4,200 in 2024; misdemeanor lawyers average 186 cases. No new positions. Requests for race‑blind charging software, Racial Justice Act staff, Be the Jury program, and operational cost increases were not funded. Committee thanked DA for maintaining flat staffing.
Key Outcomes
- SFPUC Items 6‑8: Amended and forwarded to full board (July 8) with positive recommendation (4‑0).
- Library Trailing Legislation (Item 4): Forwarded to full board (July 8) with recommendation (4‑0).
- Public Defender Trailing Legislation (Item 5): Forwarded to full board (July 8) with recommendation (4‑0).
- Main Budget Hearing (Items 1‑3): Continued to the committee's June 18 meeting (4‑0).
- No other formal votes were taken; department budgets remain under review.
Note: The meeting recessed for approximately 30 minutes at 1:00 PM and resumed. The meeting adjourned after public comment on the overall budget.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 13, 2025 meeting of the budget and appropriation committee. I am Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Vice Chair, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, and members, Supervisors Joan Guardio, Shaman Walton, and President Rafael Mendelman. Our clerk is Brent Halipa. And I want to thank Jamie Evercherry and Jamie and James Kawana from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Thank you, Madam Chair. To please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent interruptions to our proceedings. Should you have any documents to be included as part of the file, they should be submitted to myself, the clerk. Public comment will be taken on each item of this agenda. When your item of interest comes up in public comment is called, please line up to speak on the west side of the chamber to your right, my left along those curtains. And while not necessary to provide public comment, we do invite you to fill out a comment card and leave them on the trade by the television to your left by the doors. If you wish to be accurately recorded for the minutes, alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at B R E N T dot J A L I P A Hat S F G O V dot or 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 in City Hall at one Dr. Carlton, be good look. Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And thank you, Madam Chair. That concludes my announcements. Thank you, Mr. Clerk and colleagues today to ensure that as we go through the department uh budgets that we uh allowing just time for questions, but also know that uh we have the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's item on the agenda. Um that uh it's it's this is not their year. That their year is is uh as an enterprise agency is every uh other year. Um so what we're gonna do to make sure that we get through the agenda in a timely fashion today. We're going to take things out of order and that we're going to take these items um first uh before we proceed with the rest of the department hearing today. With that, Mr. Clerk, can you call um items six through eight? Oh, my apologies. Uh, but before we call items. Uh Supervisor Walton. Thank you, Chair Chan. And I just wanted to uh take a quick second to acknowledge the interns that are here sitting in on today's budget hearing from young community developers. Please stand up and be ignored. Welcome. They they just wanted to see um government in action. So thank you, Chair Chan. Well, then I hope that we deliver and perform today for you. Uh with that, and uh yes, Mr. Clerk, please call items six through eight together. Yes, madam chair. Items six through eight. Item number six as an ordinance appropriating and de-appropriating for a total net deappropriation amount of approximately eighty-seven thousand to previously approved ordinance number one twenty-four-24 for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Capital Projects budget and supplemental appropriation in fiscal year 2025 to 2026. Item number seven is an ordinance authorizing the issuance and sale of tax-exempt or taxable water revenue bonds and other forms of indebtedness by the public utilities commission in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed approximately one billion to finance the costs of various capital water and hatched water projects benefiting the water enterprise, pursuant to amendments to the charter enacted by the voters on November 5th, 2002, has Proposition E authorizing the issuance of water revenue refunding bonds and the retirement of outstanding water enterprise commercial paper, declaring the official intent of the commission to reimburse itself with one or more issues of tax exempt bonds or other forms of indebtedness and ratifying previous actions taken in connection with the previously listed matters. And item number eight is an ordinance deappropriating approximately 13 million in the public utilities commission in fiscal year 2025 to 2026. Madam Chair.
openpublica.com