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Board approves $39.5 million DPH reallocation to overtime after concerns about understaffing
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to de-appropriate $39,500,000 from Department of Public Health permanent positions and re-appropriate the funds to overtime, drawing criticism that the shift replaces planned hiring of nurses and technicians with temporary staffing.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12 approved an ordinance reallocating $39,500,000 from permanent salaries and fringe benefits to overtime within the Department of Public Health to support projected overtime costs.
Supervisor Safaie (District 11) severed the item for discussion and criticized the reallocation as a sign of mismanagement by the mayor's administration. "This $39,500,000 was designated to hire nurses, nurse assistants and medical technicians — mainly in Laguna Honda and SF General," Safaie said, adding that the funds were intended to staff up critical hospital positions and that moving the money into overtime is a missed opportunity to address understaffing.
The ordinance passed by roll call. Preston was recorded absent; the roll call recorded 10 votes in favor. The clerk read the roll call with affirmations from supervisors Mandelmann, Melgar, Peskin, Ronan, Safaie, Stephanie, Walton, Chan, Dorsey and Engadio.
Why this matters: The vote reallocates funds that had been allocated for hiring into overtime pay, a move supporters said was necessary to cover immediate staffing shortfalls and critics said would prolong reliance on temporary staffing instead of restoring permanent capacity.
During debate Safaie said the shift is effectively removing money intended to staff up for long-term needs — the equivalent of funding roughly 350 positions, she said — and signaled concern about impacts on emergency services and the city's broader public-safety net. Despite her criticism, Safaie voted in favor of the ordinance, saying she felt constrained by circumstances but would push for changes during the budget process.
Outcome and next steps: The ordinance was "finally passed" at the meeting after roll call. The motion as described in the agenda de-appropriated $39,500,000 from permanent salaries and dependent-care fringe benefits and appropriated the same amount to overtime for the Department of Public Health. The action takes effect in the city's budget; the supervisors signaled that broader staffing and budget choices would be topics for the upcoming budget cycle.
Documentation: The clerk read the ordinance title and roll call during the meeting record; Supervisor Safaie’s remarks are in the public meeting transcript.
