Supervisor Breed calls for audit committee hearing on slow spending of Proposition A bond funds

Supervisor London Breed told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 7 she is requesting a hearing before the Government Audit and Oversight Committee to question the Municipal Transportation Agency’s management of the $500 million Proposition A general-obligation bond approved by voters in February 2014.

Breed said the bond was passed to address transportation infrastructure needs but that, as of the meeting, only about 2 percent of the bond proceeds had been spent. She said delayed spending erodes purchasing power as construction costs rise and that the city is paying interest on sold bonds that are not being deployed. Breed asked the committee to require MTA to explain causes for the delay, provide a timeline for project delivery, identify projects or features that might be cut, and explain oversight by the MTA board and the citizens’ bond oversight committee.

Breed noted that lengthy project approval timelines contribute to delays and said the city must balance outreach with timely delivery of critical safety and infrastructure projects. She said she would bring the matter to the government-audit committee with Supervisor Peskin as a cosponsor.

The board did not take a final vote on bond-related policy at the Feb. 7 meeting; Breed’s request was introduced and will be processed through committee scheduling.