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San Francisco Fire Department reports budget deal with committee, outlines hires and EMS funding plans
Summary
Chief Joanne Hayes White and finance director Mark Corso told the Fire Commission the department negotiated with the Budget & Finance Committee to reduce proposed cuts and preserve equipment and outreach funding; the department plans to hire 54 firefighters in the upcoming class and has earmarked additional EMS money for programs to be determined.
SAN FRANCISCO — At a June 28 regular meeting of the San Francisco Fire Commission, Chief of Department Joanne Hayes White and Deputy Director of Finance and Planning Mark Corso gave the commission a progress update on the department’s budget and staffing plans. The commission also formally approved the minutes from its June 14 meeting.
Hayes White said the department completed its portion of the budget process after recent negotiations with the city’s Budget & Finance Committee. Corso said the committee’s initial proposal included “approximately 1,500,000.0 of proposed cuts,” and the department agreed to “reductions in the amount of approximately 700,000,” largely through attrition and one‑time reductions. Corso added that those reductions “I don't believe…will have any operational impact to the department.” He said the settlement allowed the department to keep its equipment fund, including “the additional $4,000,000 we received in the second year,” and to maintain outreach initiatives.
Commissioners pressed for details. Commissioner Francie Covington asked what functions were covered under “outreach”; Corso said the outreach funding is mainly for public education under the Bureau of Fire Prevention and is directly funded by the Department of Building Inspection, which the presentation identified as contributing about $1,100,000 for personnel and non‑personnel costs.
The department also discussed additional EMS funding described during the meeting as an extra allocation for EMS. Hayes White said the use of that money is “to be determined” and suggested options such as expanding EMS services or coordinating with other city agencies on a ‘safer streets’ initiative that would involve the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Police Department.
On staffing, Hayes White said the 120th recruit academy was at about the halfway mark; the department reported 49 recruits currently in the academy and said 3 resignations and 2 releases occurred during the reporting period. The department plans to hire 54 new firefighters in the upcoming class: 42 will be selected from the civil service list and 12 will be internal hires from Station 49. Hayes White confirmed the class graduation date as September 8.
Procedurally, Commissioner Francie Covington moved to approve the minutes of the June 14, 2017 meeting; a second was recorded and the chair put the item to voice vote, after which the minutes were approved.
The department said the budget approved out of committee will proceed to the full board for additional hearings and votes. Chief Hayes White and Corso expressed optimism that the committee agreement would carry forward but cautioned there is still an opportunity for changes when the budget reaches the full board.
The commission asked that the department provide follow‑up details on how the EMS funds will be allocated and requested a memo with the exact graduation date and invitation logistics for the upcoming recruit graduation. The department said it would provide those materials ahead of the September class graduation.
