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SFPD previews $457.8 million FY2010 budget and warns of $36 million in cuts
Summary
At the Jan. 28 Police Commission meeting, CFO Kenneth Bukowski presented a preliminary FY2010 SFPD base budget of $457.8 million and said the department must find roughly $36 million in reductions amid a projected citywide deficit exceeding $500 million, with potential impacts on academy classes, civilian hiring and facilities.
At its Jan. 28, 2009 meeting, the San Francisco Police Commission heard a preliminary presentation of the San Francisco Police Department's FY2010 budget from Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Bukowski. "The department's 02/2010 base budget is $457,800,000," Bukowski told the commission, adding that approximately $353 million of that total is expected to come from the city's general fund.
Bukowski framed the presentation against what he described as a citywide budget shortfall, saying the city is "looking at over $500,000,000 deficit" for the coming year. To meet the mayor's requested reduction targets, he said the department was preparing plans that show a 12.5 percent cut (about $18.3 million) and a possible full 25 percent reduction (about $36.5 million) that the department must account for in materials it submits to the mayor's and controller's offices.
Why it matters: Bukowski said the bulk of the department's spending — roughly 90 percent — goes to salaries and fringe benefits, so finding the $36 million target will require difficult tradeoffs that could affect staffing levels, academy classes and civilian positions. He warned that, "it's not possible without looking at salary and fringe reductions as well," and asked commissioners to flag priorities for special budget sessions on Feb. 11 and Feb. 18.
Specific impacts and options noted in the presentation included delayed academy classes that had been scheduled for May and February, frozen civilian hiring for many positions, and work to identify services that could be charged to other departments or funded through non‑general fund sources. Bukowski said the department is exploring options such as federal COPS hiring grants but cautioned those grants carry match requirements.
Facilities and equipment needs were also highlighted. Bukowski said the department had signed a lease for a new tactical space and will need about $868,000 next year to accommodate that relocation. On equipment, he estimated a request in the roughly $1 million to $3 million range, citing recent equipment purchases for marked vehicles, motorcycles and other recurring capital needs.
Commissioners pressed staff about technology, station internet access and record-management projects. Bukowski said multi‑year contracts for systems such as the EIS are funded, but that staffing — including the recruitment of a civilian chief information officer and supporting IT staff — remains a constraint for executing some projects. Deputy staff reported progress on station connectivity but acknowledged that real‑time analytics and CompStat capabilities remain a work in progress.
The commission did not take action on the budget at the meeting; Bukowski asked commissioners to submit items they want emphasized at the Feb. 11 and Feb. 18 budget-review meetings.
