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Fire Commission reviews draft operating budget as city projects large deficits
Summary
The San Francisco Fire Commission on Jan. 27 reviewed its departmentbudget submission amid a citywide fiscal outlook projecting roughly $100 million and $240 million deficits over the next two years and a mayoral directive for phased 1.5% reductions; the department will cost and prioritize a list of enhancements and return with figures at the next meeting.
The San Francisco Fire Commission heard the Fire Department Chief Financial Officer Mark Corso present the departmentdraft operating budget for fiscal years 2016-17 and 2017-18 and the mayor this yearbudget instructions.
"The report showed that even with the anticipated growth in revenues ... the city is projecting approximately $100,000,000 deficit in the first of the 2 fiscal years... and a $240,000,000 deficit in the second year," Corso told the commission, summarizing a joint fiscal outlook prepared by the mayor and controller.
Corso explained the mayor's office instructed departments to plan for a 1.5% reduction in the first year and a cumulative additional 1.5% in the second. "For the fire department, that equates to about $866,000 in the first year and about $1,700,000 in the second year," he said.
Commissioners pressed for detail on where reductions might be taken and how enhancement requests would be prioritized. Corso said the department is compiling a list of enhancements drawn from division heads and committees (fleet replacement, training, staffing, IT, and station projects) and will return to the commission with cost estimates and alternative approaches (including revenue options) at the next meeting.
The department and commissioners singled out a small set of operational priorities: an explicit fleet and equipment replacement plan, restoration of certain chief-level positions (the battalion chief position associated with battalion 5), and continued funding for recruit academies and training. Corso said some positions had been funded partially in prior years and are being annualized for the coming budget cycle; he noted the department proposes several alternatives for fleet replacement (three-, five- and seven-year phased plans) and that the total enhancement list runs into the multimillions of dollars.
The commission did not take final action on the budget at the meeting; Corso committed to provide the detailed enhancement costing and a conventional budget book for review before the Feb. 10 meeting.
Ending: The commission scheduled detailed budget consideration and possible adoption for its next meeting and asked staff to return with prioritized, costed options.
