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Budget & Finance Committee holds multi‑department hearings; several items continued for public comment
Summary
The committee heard consolidated two‑year budget presentations from museums, arts, parks, human services, public health and other departments, reviewed capital needs and program initiatives, and continued several legislated items to allow public testimony.
The Board of Supervisors Budget & Finance Committee conducted a broad multi‑department hearing June 25 to review proposed FY2012–13 and FY2013–14 budgets and related legislation. Chair Carmen Chu opened the session and the clerk read items 1–15, which included major budget and ordinance proposals across city agencies.
Major departmental presentations and highlights
- Asian Art Museum: COO Mark McLaughlin and Director Jay Xu forecast balanced budgets for FY12–14, described the museum’s revenue mix (~$21M total with ~$7.8M city funding and ~$13.5M foundation support) and said a multi‑year business plan will report by September. “For fiscal year 12, we expect to have a balanced budget,” McLaughlin said.
- Fine Arts Museums: Michelle Gutierrez and board president Diane B. Wilsey described exhibition schedules, education access and capital maintenance needs (Legion roof and boilers), and reported high free admission rates (≈72%).
- California Academy of Sciences: CEO Greg Farrington emphasized operating costs tied to living collections and requested support for a multi‑million animal care facility and a $39,000 restoration of direct funding he termed critical for animal care.
- War Memorial: Beth Murray outlined the Veterans Building seismic upgrade (planned July 1, 2013 closure for two years) and described a $132M projected cost covered by certificates of participation plus department and tenant contributions.
- Recreation & Parks: Phil Ginsberg described earned‑revenue improvements and program expansions, detailed staffing shortages (gardeners and park patrol) and apprenticeship pipeline plans, and presented two pending ordinances (golf fees and professional tennis lesson rates) that the committee continued for public comment.
- Human Services Agency and homelessness: Director Trent Rohrer described a ~$700M agency budget, impacts of state realignment, major growth in CalFresh caseloads, Medi‑Cal expansion in 2014 (projected new eligibles), and homelessness interventions including rental assistance and supportive housing; he reported 89 families placed into permanent housing following private donations and mayoral commitments.
- Office of Early Care & Education: the mayor’s office proposed a consolidated OECE (see separate coverage), transferring seven existing funded positions into a new office and recruiting a director this summer.
- First 5 (Children & Families Commission): Laurel Klumach described Preschool for All expansion plans, reserves (~$13.4M projected), and inclusion and family resource center investments.
- Juvenile Probation and DPH also presented capital and program needs, staff changes, and health‑care IT and SFGH capital plans.
Procedural actions
The committee accepted the budget analyst’s recommended not‑to‑exceed contract amounts for several contract modifications and voted by unanimous consent to continue multiple items for public comment: items 1–12 and 14–15 were continued to the following day; item 13 was continued to the call of the chair. Several departments (Rec & Park, DPH, HSA, DCYF, First 5) agreed to follow up with requested fiscal details.
Why it matters
The day’s presentations showed city operating programs balancing increased demand for services (food assistance, Medi‑Cal, homeless services, and youth programs) against reduced or shifting state revenue and rising capital needs. Several proposals (fee ordinances, OECE creation, Veterans Building project) will require additional committee review and public comment before the board considers final votes.
