Board rejects one salary ordinance, approves another as budget fight continues

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected an ordinance that would have appropriated about $6,000,000 from deappropriated salary and fringe-benefit funds at San Francisco General Hospital but approved a different ordinance that amended the annual salary ordinance for the Department of Public Health.

The board voted 7–4 against the ordinance described as "appropriating approximately $6,000,000" (item 19) after President Chu said, "This ordinance would have required 8 votes, so it fails today." The Board then considered item 20, an ordinance to amend the annual salary ordinance for the Department of Public Health for an 11.8–pay‑period span; that measure passed on first reading by a 7–4 margin, a tally sufficient under the relevant vote threshold. President Chu stated, "So this vote requires 6 votes, so the ordinance is passed in the first reading."

The votes reflected a larger disagreement among supervisors over whether to add positions that may not be funded. Supervisor Ellsburn opposed tabling item 20 and argued against adding positions that are not funded, saying, "I do not find it consistent, nor do I find there any integrity in creating positions that you fully well know are not funded." By contrast, Supervisor Daley defended consistent voting and referenced charter thresholds that treat similar items differently, arguing members should cast consistent votes rather than shifting positions based on those thresholds.

The meeting also included a lengthy budget-oriented presentation from Supervisor Daley. Daley said he had submitted a supplemental appropriation proposal that would de‑appropriate $20,705,204, including $13,870,901 in salaries and fringe benefits representing 102.64 full‑time equivalents (FTEs) in the police department and $6,834,294 representing 49.7 FTEs in the fire department, effective March 20 of the fiscal year. He characterized the city’s fiscal deficit as a $550,000,000 problem and framed his proposal as an attempt to address long‑term structural imbalances in public safety and health funding. Daley said, in part, that the changes he proposed were intended to show “leadership” and start addressing an “unfunded liability” in retiree health and budget disparities between public safety and health and human services.

Supervisor Ellsburn later described a separate, detailed charter amendment package dealing with retiree health and pension contributions (introduced later in the meeting) and urged colleagues to consider measures to fund the city’s long‑term retiree‑health liability. Ellsburn emphasized new‑hire pension contributions and longer averaging periods for pensionable earnings as prospective changes, and he said of the retiree‑health issue, "If we don't start paying off this bill today, our successors in office... are going to be hemorrhaging dollars."

What happened - Item 19 (ordinance appropriating roughly $6,000,000 for San Francisco General Hospital fund positions): vote failed 7 ayes, 4 noes (failed because an 8‑vote threshold applied). President Chu: "This ordinance would have required 8 votes, so it fails today." - Item 20 (amendment to annual salary ordinance for Department of Public Health, covering 11.8 pay periods): passed on first reading, 7 ayes, 4 noes; President Chu: "So this vote requires 6 votes, so the ordinance is passed in the first reading."

Why it matters The votes show the board split over adding staff lines when funding is uncertain. The exchanges also set the stage for larger policy fights announced in the meeting — including Daley’s de‑appropriation proposal and Ellsburn’s charter amendments on pensions and retiree health — that could affect city budgets for years.

What’s next - Item 20 proceeds to second reading on the schedule required for ordinance passage. - Daley and Ellsburn signaled further formal proposals and charter amendments to follow; those will require committee hearings and additional votes.

Speakers - President Edwin M. Chu, President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Supervisor Chris Daley, Supervisor (introduced the supplemental appropriation remarks) - Supervisor Ellsburn, Supervisor (budget and charter remarks) - Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Supervisor - Supervisor Maxwell, Supervisor - Supervisor Mercarimi, Supervisor - Supervisor Alioto Pier, Supervisor - Supervisor Avalos, Supervisor - Supervisor Campos, Supervisor

Authorities - ordinance: "Item 19: appropriation ordinance (described in meeting materials)" referenced by vote - ordinance: "Item 20: amendment to annual salary ordinance, Department of Public Health" referenced by vote

Actions [{"kind":"ordinance_first_reading","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"19"},"motion":"Ordinance appropriating approximately $6,000,000 from deappropriation of funds from salaries and fringe benefits in the San Francisco General Hospital Fund to add and delete various positions effective 01/17/2010.","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Daley","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Dufty","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Ellsburn","vote":"no"},{"member":"Mar","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Maxwell","vote":"no"},{"member":"Mercarimi","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Alioto Pier","vote":"no"},{"member":"Avalos","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Campos","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Chu","vote":"no"}],"tally":{"yes":7,"no":4,"abstain":0},"legal_threshold":{"met":false,"notes":"This ordinance required 8 ayes to pass; there were 7 ayes and 4 nos."},"outcome":"failed","notes":"Failed due to 8‑vote threshold."},{"kind":"ordinance_first_reading","identifiers":{"agenda_item_id":"20"},"motion":"Ordinance amending the annual salary ordinance to add and delete various job classes in the Department of Public Health for 11.8 pay periods between 01/17/2010 through 06/30/2010.","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","vote_record":[{"member":"Daley","vote":"no"},{"member":"Dufty","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Ellsburn","vote":"no"},{"member":"Mar","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Maxwell","vote":"no"},{"member":"Mercarimi","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Alioto Pier","vote":"no"},{"member":"Avalos","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Campos","vote":"aye"},{"member":"Chu","vote":"aye"}],"tally":{"yes":7,"no":4},"legal_threshold":{"met":true,"notes":"Requires 6 votes for passage on first reading; 7 ayes achieved."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Passed on first reading."}]

discussion_decision":{"discussion_points":["Whether to add positions not currently funded","Charter thresholds cause different vote requirements for similar actions","Long‑term retiree health and pension liabilities"],"directions":["Supervisor Daley to advance supplemental appropriation and budgetcharts","Supervisor Ellsburn to pursue charter amendments on pensions and retiree health"],"decisions":["Item 20 passed on first reading; item 19 failed due to required 8‑vote threshold."]},

clarifying_details":[{"category":"item_19_amount","detail":"approximate appropriation amount","value":"6000000","units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"President Chu"},{"category":"item_20_scope","detail":"amendment covers 11.8 pay periods between 01/17/2010 and 06/30/2010","source_speaker":"Clerk/agenda"},{"category":"Daley_supplemental","detail":"deappropriate $20,705,204 including $13,870,901 in salaries and fringe benefits representing 102.64 FTEs (police) and $6,834,294 representing 49.7 FTEs (fire) effective March 20","source_speaker":"Supervisor Daley"}],

proper_names":[{"name":"San Francisco General Hospital Fund","type":"agency"},{"name":"Department of Public Health","type":"agency"},{"name":"San Francisco Board of Supervisors","type":"agency"}],

provenance":{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"t164.875","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Item 19 is an ordinance appropriating approximately $6,000,000... Item 20 is an ordinance amending the annual salary ordinance...","tc_start":"00:02:44","tc_end":"00:03:12","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"t1930.46","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Even if we were to pass this, the appropriation as it is drafted, it would not reach the 25% target...","tc_start":"00:32:10","tc_end":"00:32:35","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience":{"overall":0.70,"overall_justification":"Hi…