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LAFCO approves 2015–16 budget, reserves right to full statutory allocation
Summary
The San Francisco LAFCO approved a proposed 2015–16 budget and will request $148,671 from the city while reserving the option to seek the full statutory allocation later; staff will shift the assistant clerk back to the general fund and move to hourly billing for clerking services.
San Francisco’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted to approve its proposed 2015–16 budget on April 22, adopting a motion that asks the city for $148,671 while reserving the commission’s right to a higher, statutorily allowed allocation.
Angela Calvillo, Clerk of the Board, told commissioners the LAFCO carry forward has been used to fund a half‑time assistant clerk and other administrative support and that the carry forward balance on slide 5 of her packet stood at $11,616,000. She said the clerk’s office charges LAFCO a $20,000 fixed administrative support fee and carries the actual cost of the assistant clerk, previously estimated at about $72,000 annually, against the carry forward.
Supervisor John Avalos presided. After discussion about billing practices and budget accounting, Commissioner Campos moved to approve the proposed budget; Commissioner Cruz seconded the motion. The motion included language reserving the commission’s right to the full statutory allocation (the packet cited a maximum allocation figure) while requesting $148,671 from the city for the coming year. The motion passed without objection.
Why it matters: LAFCO has relied on an accumulated carry forward for several years to support operations. Staff told commissioners that, as reserves deplete, the commission will need the Board of Supervisors and the mayor to include adequate general fund allocations in the city budget to sustain staffing and LAFCO functions.
Budget mechanics and next steps: Calvillo and staff said they will shift the half‑time assistant clerk’s support back to the general fund and move toward recording billable hours for clerk and legal time attributable to LAFCO. Counsel Nancy Miller told the commission that, under state law, LAFCO generally sets its budget and the mayor and Board of Supervisors have limited discretion to override an adopted LAFCO budget, though the practical allocation still flows through the city budget process.
The commission scheduled formal budget review to continue through the city’s budget calendar; staff will present the item again as the city mayor’s office and Board of Supervisors consider allocations.
