Board continues entire budget package to July 20 after presentation of recovery, equity priorities

Chair Matt Haney, speaking as chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, presented the Board with the recommended budget for fiscal years 2021‑22 and 2022‑23, calling it a “recovery budget” focused on equity and investments for communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

Haney said the package included over $1 billion for shelter and housing efforts, tens of millions to implement the city’s Mental Health SF program, and expanded alternatives to law‑enforcement responses in some street settings. He described the budget as a product of compromise and said the committee worked closely with city departments, the mayor’s office and thousands of residents who participated in budget hearings.

The Board formally continued items 9 through 31 (the budget and related ordinances/resolutions) to a follow‑up meeting on July 20 to allow final adjustments and to complete the legislative process. Supervisor Haney moved the continuance; Supervisor Marr seconded; the roll call vote recorded 11 ayes.

During the discussion Supervisor Ronan asked the Department of Public Health’s CFO, Greg Wagner, about a specific billing complaint that had been brought to the Board’s attention — a resident who reported a $933.30 balance after a brief emergency visit — and Wagner said the hospital had changed billing policies to cap out‑of‑pocket costs and to treat out‑of‑network patients as if they were in‑network for billing purposes, but he pledged to review the individual account.