Fire Commission advances SFFD two-year operating budget and $29.3M enhancements for mayoral review

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Feb. 10 voted to move forward the department—s draft two-year operating budget for fiscal years 2016–17 and 2017–18 and submitted a comprehensive list of enhancement requests to the mayor's office for prioritization.

Mark Corso presented the budget details and said the overall budget before the commission was approximately $371,000,000, which includes general-fund and other revenues. He said the department's enhancement requests totaled approximately $29,300,000 and an additional vehicle replacement plan presented to the mayor's office was roughly $45,000,000.

Corso described major drivers of the budget increase as MOU wage and pension cost escalations, annualization of positions approved in the prior year, and a projected increase in plan-check and EMS ambulance revenues. He also noted savings from a new EMS billing contract (about $500,000) that were being proposed to fund EMS infrastructure needs.

During discussion, commissioners pressed for prioritization of the $29.3 million in enhancements. Vice President Ken Cleveland asked for time to review materials and asked that the commission be involved in prioritizing the list before final negotiations with the mayor's budget office; Corso and Chief Joanne Hayes White described an anticipated prioritization and negotiation process with the mayor's staff in March and June budget hearings.

The motion to move the budget forward (with prioritization to follow) carried by voice vote and commissioners recorded "Aye"; the chair announced the vote was unanimous. Commissioners asked for more detailed cost justifications and agreed to follow-up meetings and special sessions if needed to meet the Feb. 22 submission deadline.