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City administrator details budget increases for language access, short‑term rental office
Summary
City Administrator Naomi Kelly told the Budget & Finance Committee the FY15–17 City Administrator budget adds language access specialists (three positions, including one for Russian), support for DACA services and a new short‑term rentals office funded from hotel tax. Kelly said the changes aim to improve access and enforcement but some details will be finalized after follow‑up with analysts.
City Administrator Naomi Kelly outlined her office's FY2015–17 budget on Wednesday, telling the Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee the proposal includes new spending for language access, deferred‑action services and a short‑term rentals office. She said the short‑term rentals office would be funded from general fund receipts tied to hotel taxes and the proposal includes three language access positions, one of them assigned to Russian translation.
Kelly said the City Administrator's budget shows large capital increases for real estate and the medical examiner's move to a new facility, and that the language access additions respond to a March expansion of the language access ordinance. "We currently only have 3 staff available. 1 for each of the required languages, Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino," Adrienne Pan of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs told the committee.
The language access staff, Kelly and Pan said, will provide translation services across more than 67 departments and support board meetings on an "upon request" or standing basis depending on demand. Supervisors pressed for operational details; Kelly agreed to return with clarifications and committed to work with the clerk and the budget analysts on implementation timelines and how the positions will be deployed.
Kelly also confirmed the budget accommodates two positions to support Deferred Action work (DACA) that the office says are needed even while certain federal programs remain enjoined. The office described partnerships with community groups, including the San Francisco Labor Council, and said some program activity will be covered through existing grant programs.
The committee did not take a final vote on the City Administrator omnibus budget at this meeting; analysts and department staff said they will continue to work through specific line items and return with recommended adjustments next week.
