Budget Impact on Older Adult Programs – SF Budget Committee Meeting (2026-04-15)
Budget Impact on Older Adult Programs – SF Budget Committee Meeting (2026-04-15)
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, held a hearing on April 15, 2026, to examine the proposed budget's impact on programs serving older adults. The meeting heard presentations from the Mayor's Budget Office (MBO), the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), and the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS). Public comment included strong opposition to proposed cuts. The committee heard that the city's two-year deficit is estimated at approximately $642.8 million (corrected from earlier $1 billion figure), and that departments were directed to identify $400 million in ongoing general fund reductions.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were present.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Over 40 speakers provided public comment, representing dignity fund coalition, community-based organizations (CBOs), seniors, and disability advocates. Speakers overwhelmingly opposed the proposed cuts, arguing they would increase isolation, worsen health outcomes, and shift costs to emergency services.
- Key points from public comment:
- Fiona Hindley (Dignity Fund Coalition) noted that the seven service areas experiencing cuts are precisely those identified as growing needs in the dignity fund needs assessment.
- Eric Greenfrost (Senior & Disability Action) described the cuts as a choice, not a necessity, and urged using reserves and taxing wealthy individuals and corporations.
- Jenny Belway (San Francisco Village) stated that every dollar spent on prevention returns up to $14 in avoided costs and that cutting prevention increases costs to hospitals and nursing facilities.
- Multiple speakers highlighted that isolation is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
- Speakers from Next Village, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, and others described the direct impact of cuts on seniors, including loss of meals, social connection, and housing stability services.
- Several speakers criticized the city for cutting services while not raising taxes or using reserves.
Discussion Items
-
Mayor's Budget Office (MBO) Presentation – Budget Director Sophia Kittler provided a table setting on the dignity fund and the budget process. She noted that the city is facing a two-year deficit of about $642.8 million (corrected from earlier $1 billion figure) and that departments were instructed to find $400 million in ongoing cuts. She described the dignity fund baseline suspension in fiscal years 21, 24, and 26, and that current proposed funding for DAS is around $78 million, above charter mandate.
-
Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) Presentation – Sheila Nicolopoulos, Director of Policy, outlined proposed cuts of $8.5 million in ongoing general fund reductions, including elimination of the Community-Based Services portfolio (69 grants), digital equity programs (fiber to housing and digital skills training), and community facility capital improvements. She stated that 46% of clients served by the community-based services portfolio (3,600 of 7,900 clients) are older adults.
-
Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) Presentation – Executive Director Kelly Deerman and Deputy Director Cindy Kaufman presented proposed reductions of $2.9 million in discretionary funding. They described using criteria to protect core services (e.g., case management, meals, community centers) while reducing or eliminating non-core programs such as community center extensions, neighborhood-based programs, digital literacy, video doorbells, and senior escort. They noted that the cuts potentially impact up to 2,400 program enrollments if clients do not transition to other services. They emphasized that no cuts were proposed to caregiver support, housing support, or nutrition.
Key Outcomes
- The hearing was heard and filed on a motion by Supervisor Souter, seconded by Supervisor Walton, with a unanimous vote (4 ayes, with Supervisor Mandelman excused).
- Supervisors Chan, Souter, and Walton acknowledged the difficulty of the budget situation and expressed interest in exploring alternative revenue sources and preventing disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.
- The committee committed to continued partnership with departments and CBOs to find creative solutions during the budget process.
- No specific directives or votes on proposals were taken; the hearing served as a listening session.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the April 15, 2026 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, members, Supervisor Danny Souter, and Shaman Walton. Our clerk, it's Brent Halipa. I would like to thank Jeanette Lov from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Thank you, Madam 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 while not required to provide public comment. We do invite you to fill out a comment card and leave them on the tray 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. I'll email them to myself. The budget and appropriations committee clerk.j 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 to place room 244. San Francisco, California, 94102. And um thanks so much for the opening announcement regarding standing in the chamber. We will enforce that. So to the folks in the back, please find somewhere to sit. Otherwise, we do have an overflow room in 263. And I did see a couple of cameras earlier on. Completely welcome. Feel free to take as much video and photo as you wish, but uh kindly turn off your flash. That has to not uh distract us from our proceedings. And with that, Madam Chair, that concludes my announcements. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And before we call on the agenda item today, uh I will make the motion to excuse President Rafael Mendelman. Second. Second by Vice Chair Dorsey, a roll call on the excuse. And on that motion that we excuse Supervisor Mandelman from attending today's meeting. Uh moved by Chair Chan, seconded by Vice Chair Dorsey. Vice Chair Dorsey. Dorsey, aye. Member Sauter. Sauter, aye. Member Walton. Walton. Aye. Chair Chan.
openpublica.com