San Francisco Police Commission hears sharp budget squeeze; staffing, fleet and America's Cup cited as top pressures

San Francisco Police Commission members on Jan. 11 were told the department faces major fiscal pressure that could force cuts even as officials say public-safety demands and event responsibilities are rising.

Captain John Goldberg, filling in as the department's budget lead, told commissioners the current-year police budget totals about $461,000,000 and that roughly 88 percent of that is tied up in salary and fringe benefits. "Substantially all of it is eaten up by salary fringe," he said, noting little discretionary money remains.

Goldberg and other commissioners focused on staffing. The city charter sets a reference point of 1,971 full-duty police officers; the department's deployable number shown in presentation materials was lower. Goldberg said the department is "down 200 officers" relative to the charter figure and that the city typically loses roughly 100 officers a year to retirements and resignations. A commissioner pressed for a clearer, contemporaneous staffing benchmark beyond the charter number; Goldberg said more detailed study material (the PERF/PERSH study) can clarify operational needs.

Fleet condition and replacement also drew scrutiny. Goldberg said the department currently has 293 marked patrol units and that, on a 10-year replacement cycle, the city would need about 29 replacements a year; the department received seven cars in the current budget year. "As the fleet ages, it requires more and more repair," Goldberg said, noting $20,000 damage on a vehicle recently written off after a nonemergency collision.

Training and the department's partnerships are another budget pressure. Goldberg said the end of an affiliation with City College has cut off a revenue sharing stream that previously offset training costs, forcing the department to rely more heavily on the general fund for instruction and academies.

Large planned events were highlighted as a looming one-time cost driver. Goldberg said securing waterfront venues for America's Cup races will require a mix of current officers, retired "9-60" officers and overtime to meet what he estimated would be the need for approximately 120 officers for waterfront policing during the 13 to 18 days of races.

Goldberg outlined the mayor's budget timeline: proposed departmental budgets are due the following month, controller paperwork in March and a final submission to the board in June. The mayor's office had provided a $469,200,000 planning base for the coming year and asked departments to propose a 5 percent discretionary reduction plus 1 percent staffing cuts — targets Goldberg warned would make meeting the charter staffing benchmark significantly more difficult.

Commissioners asked for more precise staffing metrics and studies that translate staffing targets into operational patrol coverage and response needs.

The commission later moved into closed session on a disciplinary item and adjourned at about 8:07 p.m.

Next steps: Chief's staff said detailed budget proposals and a five-year staffing plan will be presented to the commission in upcoming meetings.