Committee amends and approves $1.57 million reappropriation to backfill Ryan White cuts through June

The Budget & Finance Committee amended and approved an ordinance to reappropriate State Revenue Loss Reserve funds to backfill federal cuts to Ryan White HIV/AIDS services and keep programs operating through the end of the fiscal year.

Greg Wagner of the Department of Public Health said the city faced a roughly $4.2 million cut in the stop‑loss portion of Ryan White funding beginning March 1, 2012. The department requested an appropriation sufficient to replace lost funding through June, enabling providers to avoid immediate across‑the‑board cuts and layoffs while the city explores longer‑term options.

The budget analyst reviewed the department27s request and recommended a modest reduction in the requested amount; the committee adopted the analyst27s recommendation to reduce the appropriation from the original request to $1,574,127. Bill Bloom (HIV Health Services) and community advocates warned that further cuts could be life‑threatening for clients who rely on core medical and support services. Controller Ben Rosenfield said the administration would provide a fuller reserve and fiscal update in the six‑month budget status report.

The committee moved and approved the amended appropriation to avoid abrupt service reductions; supervisors stressed the need to identify funding for the following fiscal year as state and federal uncertainties continue.

Next steps: Department of Public Health will work with the budget office and the Board to plan for longer‑term funding options and report back during budget deliberations.