Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire Commission hears mayor—s budget instructions as department faces multi-year shortfall
Summary
Director Mark Corso told the Fire Commission the mayor—s Dec. 16 budget instructions project roughly $195 million in year-one and $224 million in year-two deficits for a combined roughly $420 million shortfall and asked departments to identify 3.5% reductions each year.
San Francisco—s Fire Commission received an overview of the mayor—s FY2021-22 budget instructions on Jan. 8, when Director Mark Corso (finance and planning) told commissioners the city is projecting a "triple figure deficit over the next 2 years," with about $195 million in the first year and $224 million in the second, or roughly $420 million combined.
Corso said the mayor—s office directed departments to identify reductions equal to 3.5% in each year (described as 7% cumulatively over two years) and to avoid adding new positions or enhancements in departmental budgets. He said the mayor—s top priorities remain housing, shelter and services, cleaning and safe streets, and equity.
Commissioners pressed for context on how the department—s requests will be considered by the mayor and the Board of Supervisors and urged that the fire department—s increased call volume and operational role be made clear to decision-makers. Commissioner Ken Cleveland asked for confirmation that the 3.5% reduction equates to about $2.7 million in the first year and that the cumulative impact would be about $5.4 million; Corso confirmed those figures and described the methodology behind the estimates.
Several commissioners warned against taking the reductions lightly. Commissioner Michael Hardiman said the department cannot "bear" deep cuts and urged preparation of data and statistics to make the case for maintaining service levels. Chief Janine Nicholson said she and department staff will meet with the mayor—s budget office to align the department—s requests with the mayor—s priorities.
No formal vote was taken on the budget instructions at the meeting; the item was presented as the administration—s guidance and to start the department—s internal planning and prioritization.
The commission is scheduled to continue budget discussions in January and to submit departmental budgets to the mayor by Feb. 21, with the mayor—s balanced budget due to the Board of Supervisors by June 1.
