Budget committee continues proposed city budget and salary ordinance to June 21 after extended public comment

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday heard hours of public testimony and then continued consideration of the mayor's proposed budget and the companion salary ordinance to Wednesday, June 21.

Chair Supervisor Malia Cohen called up items 1 and 2 at the start of the hearing; the clerk summarized the items as (1) the proposed budget and appropriation ordinance for all estimated receipts and expenditures through 05/31/2017 for fiscal years ending 06/30/2018 and 06/30/2019, and (2) the proposed annual salary ordinance enumerating positions in the same budget. Mayor's budget staff (identified on the record as Melissa White House, mayor's budget director) had no formal presentation but said she would answer questions at subsequent hearings.

After more than 200 members of the public used the allotted comment period, Supervisor Cohen moved to continue items 1 and 2 to June 21. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Norman Yee and adopted without objection.

Why it matters: The continuation preserves the committee's ability to consider add-backs and amendments raised by hundreds of public speakers and by supervisors during a week of budget hearings. Speakers pressed the board for additional funding across multiple areas, including housing subsidies and shelter capacity, increases to nonprofit contract rates, expanded home-delivered meals and senior services, and no cuts to Grants for the Arts.

What the committee did: The committee did not adopt the budget or salary ordinance on the record. The formal action recorded on the transcript was a procedural motion to continue the items to June 21; there was no roll-call vote recorded and the motion was accepted "without objection." The clerk confirmed there was no further business and the committee adjourned.

Next steps: The continued hearing on June 21 will give supervisors another opportunity to propose add-backs, seek department clarifications, and vote on any amendments before forwarding items to the full Board of Supervisors. The clerk noted items acted on at this hearing will appear on the June 27 Board agenda.

Details recorded in the hearing: The committee's clerk announced procedures and the agenda at the start of the meeting. Melissa White House, identified as the mayor's budget director, said she would respond to questions at later sessions. The committee formally called items 1 and 2 together and later made and approved a motion to continue those items to June 21 after public comment concluded.