Board unanimously approves $13.1 million general‑fund transfer for workers' compensation costs across public safety departments

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 3 unanimously approved an ordinance to appropriate approximately $13,100,000 of general fund reserves to several public-safety and public-health departments to cover increased workers' compensation costs in fiscal year 2021–22.

The ordinance, as described by the clerk, "appropriates approximately 13,100,000.0 of general fund reserves to the Fire Department, the Department of Public Health, the Sheriff's Department, and the Department of Emergency Management for increased workers compensation costs and the authority to receive and expand these funds in the Department of Human Resources in fiscal year 2021 through 2022."

Why it matters: The transfer covers unanticipated or increased workers' compensation liabilities for multiple city departments and permits receipt and expansion of associated funds in the Department of Human Resources.

Charter requirement and vote: The clerk noted the matter required a two-thirds vote (eight votes) under the charter for passage that day. The board voted unanimously in favor; the clerk recorded nine ayes and announced the ordinance "is finally passed unanimously."

Implementation: The ordinance authorizes transfers from general fund reserves and directs the affected departments to accept and expend the funds. Departments named were the Fire Department, Department of Public Health, Sheriff's Department and the Department of Emergency Management; the Department of Human Resources was noted as the authority to receive and expand the funds for FY2021–22.

Formal action recorded: See the actions section for the motion text, sponsors and roll call tally.