Public Works submits $406 million operating, $351.9 million follow-up budget proposal; commissioners approve submittal amid planned cuts

The San Francisco Public Works Commission on Feb. 13 voted unanimously to approve the departmentproposed operating and capital budget priorities for fiscal year 2025-26 and 2026-27, authorizing the department to submit a $406,000,000 proposed budget for FY 2025-26 and a $351,900,000 proposed budget for FY 2026-27 to the mayor.

Deputy Director of Finance Bruce Robertson presented the proposal and walked commissioners through a package of recommended reductions that Public Works developed to meet a mayoral instruction for a 15 percent general-fund reduction. Robertson said the $406 million figure reflects operating and capital items the department will present to the mayor and that the mayor's office and Board of Supervisors will consider changes during the next phase of the budget process.

Robertson summarized the department's plan to meet the $13.8 million general-fund cut. Key elements include a $4.7 million reduction to the Pit Stop (public restroom) program that will involve targeted closures and hour reductions; a roughly $2.1 million cut through reduced temporary salaries (street cleaning and related temporary staff); more than $5 million in overhead and administrative reductions across many line items (software licenses, training, contractual services and other adjustments); $1.2 million in grant-funded program reductions (including sidewalk power-wash and enhanced street-sweeping grants); and smaller technical adjustments and a modest overtime reduction.

Robertson described the trade-offs: Public Worksdata-driven analysis identified times and locations to scale back Pit Stop hours with the least impact, but the department expects localized increases in service requests where closures occur. "There will be some closures, there will be some reductions in hours," Robertson said, and the department has prepared performance data to support targeted decisions. He emphasized contingency planning with community benefit districts, nonprofits and existing partners to mitigate visible impacts.

Robertson presented a five-year financial forecast that shows operating expenditures outpacing revenues and projected larger gaps in coming years unless revenues increase or policy changes are made. He told the commission the mayor's office had also issued a citywide hiring freeze and a temporary pause on new contracts or programs, and that department requests for exceptions will be reviewed monthly by the mayor's budget staff.

Commissioners expressed concern and support. Several urged the department to press the mayor's office and the Board of Supervisors for flexibility and to consider citywide approaches to reduce downstream impacts. Commissioner Gerald Turner suggested proactive outreach and advance "thank yous" to staff and residents who will be affected, and several commissioners recommended that Public Works and the communications team prepare updates and community-facing explanations of impacts. Public Works communications staff said they will respond to media requests and noted the department will provide factual information during the budget process but said a proactive public campaign tied to unfinalized budget cuts was premature during the mayoral review phase.

The commission approved the department's submission to the mayor; Robertson and Director Carla Short said the proposal will continue through mayoral review and the Board of Supervisors hearings and could change before final adoption.

Votes at a glance: Commission approved submission of proposed San Francisco Public Works FY 2025-26 budget of $406,000,000 and FY 2026-27 budget of $351,900,000; outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: Public Works will submit the proposal to the mayor, monitor mayoral/Board of Supervisors changes, and return with a final budget overview after the mayor signs or forwards the proposal to the board.