San Francisco Department of Public Health proposes $10M budget cuts for public health services

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a critical Bielenson hearing on April 16, 2025, to discuss proposed reductions in the Department of Public Health (DPH) budget for fiscal years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. The meeting highlighted the city's ongoing budget crisis, with officials indicating that significant cuts to public health services are necessary due to a projected budget deficit.

Dr. Grant Colfax, the Director of Public Health, presented the proposed budget cuts, which include a 5% reduction in funding for community-based organizations (CBOs) that do not receive external matching funds. This reduction is expected to impact various services, including behavioral health, population health outreach, and ambulatory programs, totaling approximately $10 million. The DPH plans to work closely with affected CBOs to mitigate the impact of these cuts over the next year.

Jenny Louie, DPH Chief Operating Officer, elaborated on the budget reductions, noting that while some services may not fall under the strict definition of medical services, all proposed cuts are being presented for transparency. The meeting also addressed the reallocation of funds from the sugar-sweetened beverage tax, which will see $2.7 million shifted to the Human Services Agency to support food security programs, raising concerns among supervisors about the loss of funding for health education initiatives.

Supervisors expressed frustration over the lack of public engagement in the decision-making process regarding these cuts. They emphasized the importance of community health programs, particularly in light of the city's overdose crisis and food insecurity issues. The discussion revealed a disconnect between the DPH's budgetary constraints and the community's needs, with calls for a more robust engagement process moving forward.

The hearing concluded with a commitment from DPH to consider public input and work collaboratively with community organizations to address the impending budget cuts. The board will continue to deliberate on the budget in the coming days, with the hope of finding solutions to preserve essential public health services amidst financial challenges.