San Francisco budget committee forwards two budget ordinances to full Board with recommended amendments

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee voted by unanimous consent Friday to forward two ordinances — the proposed appropriation ordinance for FY2016–17 and FY2017–18 and the annual salary ordinance — to the full Board on July 12, 2016, with committee amendments and instructions to the Controller to make technical, conforming accounting adjustments.

Chair Mark Farrell, who opened the brief meeting, said the committee had worked through a difficult budget cycle and highlighted funding the Board secured during the process: "we were able to fund close to $50,000,000 in additional asks this year," including more than $13 million for housing and homelessness, over $7 million for youth and family services, over $7 million for LGBT community programs and in excess of $6 million for public safety. Farrell noted the package also reflects priorities put forward by the mayor and is partly predicated on a sales-tax measure before voters in November that, if approved, would provide $100 million for transportation and $50 million for the city's homeless services department.

Supervisor Scott Wiener highlighted full funding for the Getting to Zero program, San Francisco's effort to drive new HIV infections toward zero, saying the committee's package allocates $3.1 million to the initiative: "The mayor put in $600,000, and this board put in the other $2.5 million," Wiener said, adding that the funding completes the program's budget for the coming year.

During the meeting Chair Farrell read a consolidated motion to: incorporate tentative department reductions the committee adopted over the prior two weeks; reflect budget adjustments detailed in the "Board of Supervisors proposed budget amendments" document; accept the mayor's office technical adjustments; and authorize the Controller to make adjustments as required to conform to budgeting and accounting standards and to effectuate the committee's intent. Supervisor Katie Tang moved the motion and Supervisor Norman Yee was identified as second; the chair closed debate and the motion was adopted "without objection." The committee did not record a roll-call vote.

Farrell and several supervisors used the meeting to thank staff, legislative aides, the Controller's office and community advocates for their work during the budget process. The committee adjourned shortly after the motion passed.

Next step: the two ordinances will appear before the full Board of Supervisors on July 12, 2016, with the committee's positive recommendation.