Committee Praises Preschool Program, Debates Contract Amount; Budget Analyst Seeks $1.5M Cut

First 5 San Francisco and the Children's Council requested committee authorization for Amendment No. 6 to continue the city's Preschool for All program and increase contract authority to support more than 150 participating sites. Ingrid Mesquita (First 5) told supervisors the program was reauthorized by voters (Proposition C) and that the department also expects approximately $5 million in state grants to support the initiative.

The Budget Analyst reviewed actual expenditures and recommended reducing the requested contract amount by $1,498,528 to reflect prior-year underspending and the department's submitted numbers. The committee discussed whether it has authority to change contract amounts and department staff said departments may return to the board for additional appropriations if needed.

Supervisor Katie Tang said she was inclined to support the department's request for the full amount in light of a recent office reorganization and the newly established Office of Early Care and Education, while the Budget Analyst emphasized the reduction was based on data provided by the department. The committee took a motion to send the resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation.

Next step: The item will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors.