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Health department faces recommended cuts even as analysts flag hiring delays and surpluses
Summary
Budget analysts recommended reductions in the Department of Public Health budget while noting FY13-14 salary surpluses and warning departments to justify reserves; supervisors requested follow-up on hiring to ensure patient care needs at San Francisco General are met.
Budget analysts recommended targeted reductions to the Department of Public Health (DPH) even as they flagged substantial salary surpluses tied to hiring delays and transitional staffing for the new San Francisco General Hospital.
Harvey Rose, the committee's budget analyst, told supervisors the department had a projected FY13-14 salary surplus at San Francisco General of $13.9 million and a projected San Francisco Health Network salary and fringe surplus of about $8.7 million. Rose recommended placing $8,477,119 in salary and fringe benefits on the Budget & Finance Committee reserve until the department provides more detail about enrollment and expanded capacity in the Health Network.
DPH Director responded that recent HR staffing shortages had delayed hiring and that the department was building human resources capacity to accelerate recruitment. DPH presented a two-year budget totaling approximately $1.981 billion, with plans to add 150 FTEs and to fund transition costs and operating increases tied to the new hospital and the San Francisco Health Network.
Direct quotes from the hearing: "Due to delays in hiring, San Francisco General Hospital projected FY13-14 salary surplus is $13,900,000," Budget Analyst Harvey Rose stated. (SEG 3774'SEG 3776) "We have added about 150 FTEs... and we are looking at an additional 150 additional FTEs in fiscal year 'fifteen-'sixteen," DPH Director said, summarizing staffing and transition costs. (SEG 4072'SEG 4077)
Why it matters: Supervisors expressed concern that analyst reductions could undercut the department's ability to staff critical 24-hour trauma and emergency services as the new San Francisco General Hospital opens. Several supervisors asked DPH to provide detailed hiring timelines and reconciled fund-balance numbers before the committee finalizes any reductions.
Next steps: Supervisors requested a follow-up meeting with DPH and budget staff to reconcile hiring timelines, the timing of expected expenditures, and the proposed reserves before finalizing changes to the DPH budget.
Ending: The committee deferred final adjustments pending department follow-up and public comment at the next hearing.
