Budget Committee Hearing on SF Environment Dept Budget for FY 2026-2027 | February 25, 2026
Budget Committee Hearing on San Francisco Environment Department Budget for FY 2026-2027 | February 25, 2026
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Vice Chair Matt Dorsey, and joined by Supervisors Danny Sauter and President Raphael Mandelman, held a hearing on February 25, 2026 to examine the San Francisco Environment Department's (SFE) budget for fiscal year 2026-2027. The hearing was called by President Mandelman to address concerns over proposed cuts that would eliminate 7.81 full‑time equivalent positions, primarily affecting climate accountability, building electrification, and clean transportation programs. The committee heard from SFE Director Tyrone Jew, Mayor's Budget Director Sophia Kittler, and received extensive public comment overwhelmingly in support of restoring funding. The hearing was continued to the call of the chair.
Key Discussions
- Director Jew's Presentation: He outlined that SFE's budget faces compounding reductions from general fund cuts (from $2.6 million in FY22-23 to $544,886 proposed for FY26-27), declining inter‑departmental work orders (including a 20‑year PUC work order ending), and stalled federal grants. Over 93% of SFE's funds are restricted. The total restoration needed to prevent layoffs is $3,391,566. He noted that SFE's general fund investment generates a $29 return for every dollar through grants. The department's work concentrates on buildings and transportation, which account for 89% of city emissions.
- President Mandelman's Questions: He probed the impact of cuts on climate action plan implementation, the Climate Equity Hub (which has completed 55 heat pump water heater installations in low‑income communities and trained over 200 small contractors), and electric vehicle charging coordination. He emphasized that peer cities (Boston, Seattle, DC, Portland) invest significantly more in building decarbonization and climate staffing.
- Supervisor Sauter's Questions: She explored the historical underfunding of SFE, noting that the department has never had stable general fund support. A comparison slide showed San Francisco lags behind peer cities in climate staffing, even before proposed cuts.
- Mayor's Budget Director Sophia Kittler: She acknowledged the challenge, stating the mayor's office understands the need for general fund support to make SFE more strategic, and that conversations like this hearing help shape priorities before the June budget.
Public Comments & Testimony
Over 25 members of the public spoke, including SFE staff (on their own time), community organizations (PODER, Sierra Club, 350 San Francisco, Climate Emergency Coalition, Bayview Hunters Point residents, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and others). Key positions:
- Strong support for restoring SFE funding and opposing cuts. Speakers highlighted the Climate Equity Hub as a national model, the $29‑to‑$1 return on investment, and the necessity of SFE's expertise for implementing the Climate Action Plan.
- Environmental justice concerns: Residents of Bayview Hunters Point and other frontline communities stressed that cuts would disproportionately harm low‑income households and communities of color, worsening health disparities from air pollution and climate impacts.
- Calls for the Mayor to act: Several speakers urged the committee to advocate directly to Mayor Lurie to allocate the $3.4 million restoration, arguing that the city can afford it given other priorities (e.g., tax cuts for real estate investors).
Key Outcomes
- Motion to continue the hearing to the call of the chair passed unanimously (3‑0, with Supervisor Walton absent and Chair Chan excused). This allows the committee to revisit the issue as the mayor's budget proposal develops.
- No final decision was made on funding. The hearing served as a public forum to surface the implications of cuts and to press the mayor's office to consider restoring SFE's general fund support before the June budget deadline.
- The committee expressed strong concern and intent to prioritize SFE funding, with President Mandelman stating that the cuts would undermine the city's climate commitments and that the mayor has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will come to order. I would like to welcome everyone to the February 25th, 2026 meeting of the budget and appropriations committee. I am Supervisor Matt Dorsey, Vice Chair of this committee, and supervisors Danny Sauter and President Raphael Mandelman are joining me today. Our clerk is the always capable Brent Halipa, and I would like to thank everyone from the staff of SFGov TV, especially Jaime Saver Usher Berry, who was facilitating today's meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. Just a friendly reminder to those in attendance 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 the item on this agenda. When 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 the while not required 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 for your name 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 br e n t.j.org. 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 at place room two forty-four, San Francisco, California, 94102. And um, Mr. Vice Chair, that concludes my announcements. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Before we get underway today, I would like to make a motion to excuse Chair Connie Chan. Could I have a second on that motion? Seconded by Supervisor Sauter. Uh Mr. Clerk and we have a roll call. And on that motion, whether we excuse uh Chair Chant from attending today's meeting. Uh by Vice Chair Dorsey, seconded by Member Sauter. Vice Chair Dorsey. Aye. Dorsey, aye. Member Sauter. Sauter, aye. Member Walton. Walton absent. Uh member Mandelman. Aye. Mandelman, aye. Mr. Vice Chair, we have three ayes with Member Walton absent. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. The uh item passes. Mr. Clerk, would you please call item number one? Yes, item number one. Is the hearing on the San Francisco Environment Department's budget for fiscal year 2026 to 2027.
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