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Board approves Dignity Fund charter amendment to create dedicated seniors and disabilities fund
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 9–2 on July 19 to place a charter amendment on the November 2016 ballot establishing a Dignity Fund to provide baseline annual funding for services to seniors and adults with disabilities.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 9–2 on July 19 to submit a charter amendment to the November ballot that would create a Dignity Fund providing a dedicated, baseline city contribution to services for seniors and adults with disabilities.
Supporters, led by Supervisor Malia Cohen, say the measure will guarantee annual funding for home care, respite, adult day programs and eviction protection without raising a new tax.
Supervisor Malia Cohen, the item’s author, said the ballot measure grew out of a broad community coalition and is designed to “baseline spending and guarantee investments in critical services for some of our city’s most vulnerable residents.” She told the board San Francisco has the highest percentage of seniors and adults with disabilities of any urban area in California and cited projections that the city’s senior population will grow substantially over coming decades.
The measure calls for a baseline contribution to the new fund of $38 million in the first year, rising by set amounts in the early years and then adjusted annually for changes in aggregate discretionary city revenues, with an expiration date in 2037. Supporters described the fund as intended to preserve and expand services so people can age in place and remain connected to community supports.
Opponents on the board said they support funding for seniors but objected to establishing a baseline set-aside without a dedicated new revenue source. Supervisor Katy Tang explained her “general policy … not to support set asides and baselines that are not backed by revenue sources,” and she voted against the measure.
The roll call vote was 9 ayes, 2 noes; Supervisors Peskin and Tang voted no. The charter amendment will be placed on the November 8, 2016 ballot for voters to decide.
What’s next: If approved by voters the charter will require the city to set aside baseline annual contributions and to create a planning and oversight process. Implementation details and the annual budgetary appropriation would be handled by departments and the board in future budget cycles.
