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DPH outlines mayor—s proposed budget: Epic EHR authority, transfers of homeless programs and capital projects
Summary
DPH budget staff told commissioners the mayor's proposed budget adds $9 million in year one and $47 million in year two overall for DPH, includes about $42 million tied to transferring homeless programs to the new department and provides roughly $42 million of preparation authority for the Epic electronic health record; the department highlighted other enhancements for violence prevention and HIV services.
Jenny Lou, the department—s public-health budget manager, walked commissioners through the mayor—s proposed budget and the internal transfers that make the year-to-year picture appear muted: DPH—s net budget would grow by $9 million in the first year and $47 million in the second year, she said.
"DPH's budget is growing by 9,000,000 in year 1 and 47,000,000 in year 2," Jenny Lou said, then detailed that roughly $42 million of reductions reflect the movement of homeless-related programs and associated dollars to the newly formed Department of Homeless and Supportive Housing. The proposal also includes $42 million in additional preparation authority across two fiscal years to support the DPH Epic electronic health record implementation.
Lou explained technical bookkeeping choices such as capitation and fee-for-service reclassifications that change reported intergovernmental transfers but do not, staff said, indicate service reductions. The budget includes mayoral enhancements for violence-prevention outreach, HIV prevention backfills and support for the Hope SF wellness centers; several capital items were flagged, including funds to complete Building 5 follow-on work and a Laguna Honda administrative-building remodel.
Commissioners asked for a table showing historical cost-to-charge ratios and requested briefings on the service implications of transferring outreach teams and EMS functions to other departments. Staff said DPH will provide a warm handoff of contracts, IT and HR support to minimize disruption, and pledged to return with more detailed analyses at upcoming budget hearings.
The department outlined next steps in the board calendar: a Budget and Finance Committee hearing in mid-June, a public comment hearing on June 20 and two full-board votes in July, followed by the mayor—s signature.
