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LAFCO approves $627,833 budget for 2025–26 after SFPUC withdraws MOU funding
Summary
The Local Agency Formation Commission approved a $627,833 final budget and work plan for fiscal year 2025–26 and requested a statutory share of $408,630 from the City and County of San Francisco; the meeting included discussion about the SFPUC withdrawing from a prior MOU and a public comment urging more climate funding.
The Local Agency Formation Commission approved a final budget and work plan totaling $627,833 for fiscal year 2025–26 and requested the statutory amount of $408,630 from the City and County of San Francisco general fund.
The action passed unanimously at the commission’s May 16 regular meeting after a presentation from staff and discussion about the status of an earlier memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Khaled Samurais, the staff presenter, said: "My recommendation today, is to approve the final budget and work plan in the amount of $627,833 and requesting the statutory amount of $408,630 from the city and county San Francisco general fund." The motion to approve was moved by Commissioner Jackie Fielder and seconded by Commissioner Chan; Commissioners Sevier, Chan and Fielder voted aye.
The budget approved by LAFCO is unchanged from the draft the commission reviewed in March except that the SFPUC MOU funding was removed. Samurais told commissioners the SFPUC had agreed to take over two studies previously contemplated under the MOU — a natural gas decommissioning study and a green-banking study — and would report progress at future Clean Power SF updates to LAFCO. Commission discussion focused on how the MOU change affects LAFCO’s revenue and work plan. Samurais said the total budget is $627,833 and that a statutory request of $408,630 will be made to the city and county general fund.
Commissioner Chan pressed for clarity on the 2024–25 numbers and the carry-forward balances. Chan noted the budgeting columns on the materials were confusing and asked whether the 2024–25 figures shown were proposed or actual spending. Samurais explained the 2024–25 final numbers had not been finalized because LAFCO was still submitting final work orders to the SFPUC before the MOU expiration on June 30; he also said a fund balance carry-forward of $43,000 was included in the budget tables. Chan said she was "disappointed" the SFPUC had withdrawn from the MOU but acknowledged the commission and staff would continue to discuss collaboration.
During the public comment period, Susan Green of the San Francisco Climate Emergency Coalition thanked LAFCO for its work on the city’s climate action agenda and urged greater funding for the San Francisco Environment Department and for green-banking efforts. Green said: "We look forward to working with this commission and staff to connect on that in the future." No callers were on the remote line.
The commission also approved the March 21 meeting minutes (moved by Commissioner Jackie Fielder, seconded by Commissioner Sevier) by unanimous vote. Items 4 (Clean Power SF updates), 6 (acting executive officer report), 7 (general public comment) and 8 (future agenda items) were continued to a future meeting because of quorum constraints after no public commenters addressed those items.
Votes at a glance: the budget and work plan (total $627,833; statutory request $408,630) — approved, 3–0; approval of March 21, 2025 minutes — approved, 3–0.
The commission did not identify new funding sources in the meeting beyond the statutory request to the city general fund and noted the SFPUC will take responsibility for the two studies originally listed in the LAFCO work plan. LAFCO staff will return with routine updates and the SFPUC’s progress reports on those studies when available.
