Commission approves Department of Environment budget amid public calls for more climate funding

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment approved the Department of Environment’s draft FY21–22 budget after a lengthy public-comment period in which dozens of callers urged the commission and city leaders to increase funding for climate action and environmental justice.

Joe Salem, the department’s fiscal manager, presented a budget overview and stressed the distinction between the department’s AAO (annual appropriation ordinance) submission and its operating budget. Salem said the city is projecting “a $653,000,000 deficit over the next 2 fiscal years,” described required general‑fund reduction targets set by the mayor’s office, and explained that the department expects to request about $464,000 in AAO funds while recognizing nearly $6,000,000 in operating grant revenue in FY21–22 due to multiyear grant timing.

Public commenters urged more ambitious funding and earlier climate targets. Helena Baraki told the commission that the department “cannot meet this existential challenge without much more dedicated funding” and urged commissioners not to approve the proposed budget until further discussions with the mayor and Board of Supervisors could increase climate and environmental‑justice resources.

Commissioners and Director Deborah Raphael acknowledged the public’s concerns. Raphael said the department is exploring a range of revenue options beyond the general fund — including climate fees or other local mechanisms — and reported outreach to legal and policy partners to assess options that would create dedicated revenue for climate programming. Commissioners asked staff to estimate what it would cost for the city to pursue a 2030 timeline and to identify options for funding.

Before taking the roll-call vote on the budget itself, the commission approved an auxiliary motion authorizing President Stevenson to transmit a letter summarizing public comments and urging stronger fiscal support for climate and environmental‑justice work to the mayor’s budget office. The amendment passed unanimously, and the subsequent vote to approve the Department of Environment’s budget also passed on a unanimous roll‑call vote.

The department noted deadlines tied to the city budget calendar: a balanced budget must be submitted to the mayor’s office on Feb. 22, the Board of Supervisors holds hearings in May and June, and the fiscal‑year budget adoption is scheduled for July 31. Director Raphael said the department will continue to pursue grants and partnerships while working to identify longer‑term revenue options and a costed plan for meeting accelerated climate goals.