San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting – June 22, 2026
San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting – June 22, 2026
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, reconvened its recessed hearing from June 18, 2026 to continue reviewing the Mayor's proposed budget for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. The committee heard from the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) and multiple city departments on areas of disagreement regarding recommended reductions and policy proposals. No general public comment was taken; it was deferred to June 24, 2026.
Agreements Reached
- The BLA and the following departments reached full or partial agreement on fiscal recommendations: Mayor's Office (fiscal only), Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (fiscal only), Department of Public Health (fiscal only), Human Services Agency (fiscal only), City Administrator (items 1, 2, 5), and Department of Public Works (all except item 3). The committee accepted these agreements as of this meeting.
Discussion Items
Mayor's Office
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Delete seven vacant positions (Mayor 5–11) in the Mayor's Office, most unfilled for months or years. The BLA noted that several positions are grant-supported or off-budget, yielding no general fund savings.
- Department Position: Sophia Kittler (Mayor's Office) argued the positions are essential for place-based strategies (e.g., Hope SF), budget analysis, and flexible hiring. Managerial titles are not always supervisory; most positions are individual contributors. Filling is underway or planned.
- Committee: Supervisor Dorsey expressed support for adequately funding the Mayor's Office under a strong-mayor system. The committee accepted the fiscal recommendations but did not rule on the policy items; they remain undecided.
Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Delete four vacant manager positions (HOM5–8) totaling $1,071,044 in FY26-27, citing extended vacancies and the Board's priorities to reduce management growth.
- BLA Recommendation (Current Year): Take $4.4 million in one-time savings from an interim housing expansion program on reserve, as the department submitted a late request to reprogram funds for community ambassador services.
- Department Position: Director Shireen McSpadden argued the managers are critical for planning, legislative coordination, and procurement. The $4.4 million would fund ambassador services to support the Good Neighbor Policy in SOMA and Tenderloin. HSH already faces a 29 FTE reduction over two years.
- Committee: Supervisor Dorsey strongly supported keeping positions and funding ambassador services. Supervisor Sauter asked about the proportion of managers among the 29 FTEs reduced. Chair Chan questioned the attrition rate and the prolonged vacancy of the positions. No final decision; item carried to June 24.
Department of Public Health (DPH)
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Delete 23 vacant manager positions (DPH18–22) across the department, noting some vacancies exceeding two years. Total savings of $7.28 million in FY26-27 ($6.4 million general fund).
- Department Position: Director Daniel Tsai stated DPH already eliminated 19 manager positions (40% of vacant managers) and cut 130+ FTEs overall. Remaining vacancies are essential for revenue generation, regulatory compliance, and avoiding layoffs. The department has a low 6.7% turnover rate, but budgeted attrition is 10%.
- Committee: Vice Chair Dorsey acknowledged the cuts already made and supported retaining the positions. Supervisor Sauter appreciated the detailed breakdown. Chair Chan questioned the need for a director of public affairs position. No decision; carried to June 24.
Human Services Agency (HSA)
- BLA Recommendations (Fiscal): HSA7 – Reduce salary budget by $1.5 million to reflect hiring delays for 154 new FTEs responding to federal HR1 eligibility changes. HSA8 – Designate 149 of the 154 new positions as temporary (limited-term) rather than permanent.
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Delete four vacant manager positions (HSA9) totaling $1.06 million in FY26-27, three directly tied to HR1 implementation.
- Department Position: Director Trent Rhorer argued HR1 creates an immediate and sustained workload increase; the department already built in hiring delays and needs permanent staff to recruit effectively. The four managers are critical for training, workforce development, foster care payments, and overseeing eligibility work. HSA has only 4% manager positions versus citywide averages.
- Committee: Chair Chan expressed caution about adding staff given federal uncertainty and suggested potential reserve for some positions. Supervisor Dorsey asked about drug testing reduction (agreed item). Item carried to June 24.
Public Defender's Office
- BLA Recommendation (Fiscal): Adjust attrition savings upward by $56,954 due to expected hiring delays for two clerical positions.
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Deny conversion of four attorney, three paralegal, and one legal process clerk positions from temporary to permanent (PDR2–4), totaling $2.14 million in FY26-27.
- Department Position: Public Defender Mano Raju stated the attrition target is already too high (7.08%) and caused a recent supplemental request. The positions are currently filled and essential to manage high caseloads (129 cases per attorney) and the Clean Slate program (1,500 new clients, 400+ backlog).
- Committee: No specific ruling; carried to June 24.
Sheriff's Office
- BLA Recommendations (Fiscal): Five recommendations totaling $848,442 in FY26-27 and $957,568 in FY27-28, including cuts to communication supplies, software licensing, building maintenance, elimination of two fingerprint technician positions, and an increase in attrition savings.
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Place $3.3 million (half) of the Reset Center contract on reserve in FY26-27 and all $5.3 million in FY27-28, pending performance data.
- Department Position: Sheriff Miyamoto and CFO Patrick presented data on overtime management and the Reset Center's early success (753 individuals processed, 27% connected to care). They argued the cuts would hamper operations and that the performance-based portion of the contract (approximately $793,000 in FY26-27 and $625,000 in FY27-28) should be the only reserve.
- Committee: Vice Chair Dorsey proposed reserving only the performance-based incentive portion to preserve continuity while maintaining oversight. Chair Chan noted this would require a hearing for release. Item carried to June 24.
Police Department
- BLA Recommendations (Fiscal): Ten recommendations totaling $1.3 million ($910,000 one-time, $368,000 ongoing), including cuts to hazmat abatement, attrition savings, training, vehicles, and overtime.
- BLA Recommendation (Policy): Delete three vacant manager positions (POL8–10) totaling $936,249 ongoing.
- Department Position: CFO Kimmy Wu argued the cuts would undermine operational readiness, noted that 16 IT positions were already eliminated, and emphasized the need for vehicle replacement to reduce rising maintenance costs.
- Committee: Chair Chan proposed placing the fiscal recommendations on reserve and requiring the department to return with a long-term facility and fleet plan, citing Proposition A bond funds and deferred maintenance. No decision; carried to June 24.
California Academy of Sciences
- BLA Recommendation: Place 50% of five line items (professional services, salary for engineers) and 25% of building improvements on reserve in FY26-27, and 100% in FY27-28, pending a performance and management audit.
- Department Position: Interim Executive Director Amber Mace opposed the reserve, stating the funding is already tightly controlled and essential for animal safety and union salaries. The Academy has 200 million in endowment but faces a structural deficit.
- Committee: Chair Chan supported the reserve, noting it mirrors the approach taken with the San Francisco Zoo. President Mandelman confirmed the audit could begin by July and a report could come by November. The committee did not overrule; item carried to June 24.
Key Outcomes
- Agreed Items Accepted: The committee accepted the BLA fiscal recommendations for Mayor's Office (1-4, CY), HSH (1-4), DPH (1-17), HSA (1-6, CY1), City Administrator (1,2,5), and Department of Public Works (all except item 3). These will be incorporated into the committee's budget report.
- Motion to Carry Remaining Items: Chair Chan moved, and Vice Chair Dorsey seconded, to carry undecided items (Agenda Items 1–3, 18, 23–24) to the committee's June 24, 2026 meeting at 10:00 a.m. The motion passed unanimously (5–0).
- Public Comment: Scheduled for June 24, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m., limited to one minute per speaker.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 22nd, 2026 meeting of the recessed budget and appropriation committee from June 18, 2026. I am Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Dorsey and members Supervisor Danny Sauter, and shortly by Supervisor Shaman Walton and President Rafael Mandelman. Our clerk, it's Brent Halipa, and I would like to thank Seuss Entnalls 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. And should you have any documents to be included as part of the file, these should be submitted to my clerk. Uh members of the public may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Could email them to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at B R 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 Big of the Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And Madam Chair, that concludes my announcements. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Before we get started, I just want to remind the public how today's meeting will proceed. Last week we questioned city departments about the contents of their budget proposals and dispense with most of the budget trailing legislation. On Thursday, we began detailed discussion with departments that had disagreements with the budget and legislative analysts proposed reductions. We recess that meeting so that we can continue that work today. The departments that are scheduled to appear today are listed on the agenda. However, if a department agrees to the budget and legislative analysts proposed recommendations, they have not been required to return. The budget and legislative analysts will announce those departments shortly. We have one change to the order listed on the agenda. We will hear from the Academy of Sciences last. We will be we will hear from the California Academy of Sciences last on today's agenda. We will not have general public comment today. Instead, general public comment that addresses any or all departments' budgets will be heard on Wednesday, June 24th, starting at 10 a.m. in this chambers. And those public comments will be limited to one minute. With that, Mr. Clerk, can you please call items one through three? Yes, item numbers one through three are items as it relates to this committee's consideration of the mayor's proposed budget for the departments of the city and county for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027 to 2028. Item number one is our hearing to consider the mayor's proposed budgets. Item number two is the proposed budget and appropriation ordinance appropriating all estimated receipts and all estimated expenditures for departments of the city and county as of May 30th, 2026. And item number three is a proposed annual salary ordinance, enumerating positions in the AAO for the fiscal years ending June 30th, 2027 and June 30th, 2028, continuing creating or establishing these positions, enumerating and including therein all positions created by charter or state law for which compensations are paid from the city and county funds and appropriated in the AAO. Authorizing appointments are continuation of appointments there, too. Specifying the fixations, uh sorry, specifying and fixing the compensations and the work schedules thereof and authorizing appointments to temporary positions and fixing compensations. Madam Chair. Thank you. And uh, Mr. Goncher, could you please announce um which city departments have now come to agreement with your recommendations and that which the committee will accept today? Thank you and good morning. Uh Madam Chair, Dan Goncher with the Budget and Legislative Analysts Office. The departments that we believe we have full agreement with include the following. Children, youth, and family, department of early childhood, department of recreation and park, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. The we have um agreement with Department of Emergency Management, but that's with a revision to our recommendations, which were sent out this morning and also handed out, I think, by the clerk of the board just a few moments ago.
openpublica.com