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Ethics Commission outlines priorities as mayor’s budget instructions call for 15% cut and hiring freeze
Summary
Executive Director Pat Ford told the commission the department must prepare a budget reflecting a 15% reduction for FY26–27 and described program priorities, staffing levels and constraints from a new mayoral hiring freeze.
Pat Ford, executive director of the San Francisco Ethics Commission, presented the commission’s budget landscape Jan. 17 and asked commissioners for input as staff prepares a formal proposal to submit to the mayor’s budget office in February.
Ford said the commission’s current operating budget for fiscal year 2025 is $6,750,000 and the department has 29 funded positions, all currently filled. The mayor’s budget instructions issued under the incoming administration set a target of a 15% reduction across both FY26 and FY27; for the commission staff estimated that translates to roughly $1,100,000 in ongoing reductions and would likely require reducing staff positions because operating expenses are largely salaries and benefits.
Ford reviewed departmental priorities: improving educational materials and compliance assistance; modernizing and accelerating audits of publicly financed candidates; strengthening enforcement capacity to pursue proactive and larger cases; continuing to modernize electronic disclosure systems; and reviewing the commission’s policy toolkit (notably campaign finance and lobbying rules). He noted the election campaign fund is a separate fund used to finance the public-financing program and that in 2024 it funded roughly $9 million of expenditures; up to 15% of the fund balance may be available for certain administration costs but limits apply and staff is exploring how much may be used for operations.
The commission discussed the mayor’s hiring freeze, declared Jan. 9, which requires departments to request special exception to refill vacancies; Ford said the commission currently has no vacancies but would need mayoral approval to replace positions if openings occur. Commissioners expressed support for the priorities Ford proposed and suggested commissioners could assist in outreach to the mayor’s budget office if needed. Staff will return with a formal budget proposal and a second public hearing on Feb. 7 prior to submission to the mayor’s budget office on Feb. 21.
