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Board—s Budget Committee outlines new priority hearings to guide mayor—s budget
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee announced a new, thematic calendar of priority hearings to supplement traditional budget review. The Budget Legislative Analyst will present priorities March 22 and provide in-depth April reports to guide the mayor—s proposed budget.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors— Budget & Finance Committee on March 1 unveiled a new process to highlight policy priorities for the mayor—s proposed budget. Chair Cohen and Dan Goncher of the Budget Legislative Analyst—s (BLA) office said the effort will pair the committee—s traditional hearings with thematic briefings in April focusing on cross-department issues such as homelessness and housing, clean streets and public safety.
Goncher said the BLA—s November review recommended three reforms: a board-produced annual list of policy priorities for the mayor, a board budget report, and revisions to the administrative code to lengthen the legislative review period. The office has solicited the top three priorities from each board office and plans a March 22 presentation that will identify commonly cited priorities and an April timetable for in-depth written reports on each area.
The change is intended to give supervisors and the public clearer, policy-oriented information about where money has gone historically, where gaps exist and what trade-offs the city will face during budget season, Goncher said. Chair Cohen framed the move as part of a larger push for transparency in the budget process and said the hearings would help hold the mayor—s office accountable to citywide goals.
No public comment was offered on the presentation, and the committee formally filed the BLA—s hearing record for follow-up.
