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Mayor Lee pushes payroll‑tax reform, proposes jobs impact review charter amendment and $325M bond program
Summary
Mayor Ed Lee told the Board of Supervisors he will pursue systematic reform of San Francisco’s payroll‑tax structure, proposes a charter amendment requiring a jobs impact review of legislation and is seeking a $325 million bond supplement for streets, parks and public‑safety facility upgrades.
Mayor Ed Lee used a scheduled question‑and‑answer session before the Board of Supervisors to describe several city priorities on jobs and economic policy, reiterate his intent to pursue payroll‑tax reform and outline near‑term investments in infrastructure and neighborhood programs.
Payroll tax and business tax reform: The mayor told the board San Francisco’s 1.5% payroll tax creates instability and discourages hiring and said he favors a systematic reform rather than ad‑hoc carve‑outs. He told supervisors the city is considering alternative business‑tax structures and urged business groups to bring proposals that encourage hiring.
Jobs impact review charter amendment: The mayor said he intends to file a charter amendment to require a “jobs impact review” for legislation that the city economist finds could negatively affect jobs. If approved by voters, the measure would create an explicit review and public hearing to examine legislative impacts on employment and to consider mitigation or alternative language.
Infrastructure bond and “invest in neighborhoods” initiative: The mayor said he will introduce a $325 million budget supplemental in bond sales to fund street, park, playground and public‑safety facility repairs and renovations. He outlined a planned “invest in neighborhoods” initiative to centralize city support for neighborhood commercial corridors — including façade programs, microloans, parklets and streetscape work — to create jobs while improving local retail districts.
Context and next steps: The mayor noted San Francisco’s unemployment improvement (he cited the local rate dropping from 9.5% to about 8%) and framed the tax reform and bond proposals as part of a broader “roadmap to good jobs.” The administration said specifics of the charter amendment and the bond package will be developed over the coming months and that the proposals will be discussed with the Board of Supervisors during regular budget and legislative hearings.
No formal votes were taken at the meeting on the proposals; the mayor announced plans to work with the board on both the charter amendment and bond measures.
