Budget and Finance Committee accepts amended budget package; continues Proposition J to chair’s call

At a Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Chair Carmen Chu announced the committee accepted a package of amendments to the city budget that the committee said reallocate approximately $17,310,000 in restorations and adjustments and includes technical adjustments submitted by the Mayor’s budget office.

The package described by Chair Carmen Chu restores funding across public health and human services — including about $3,100,000 for the Department of Public Health and $2,500,000 for the Human Services Agency — adds $2,320,000 for children, youth and family services, partly restores in‑home support services (IHSS), funds neighborhood improvements and economic-development work, restores sheriff security at San Francisco General Hospital and Laguna Honda Hospital, and provides resources to staff a police academy class. "What you see before you is a summary of the budget balancing plan," Chu said. "This represents roughly $17,310,000 worth of changes and adjustments to the budget at this point in time."

The committee approved the amendments by motion. Supervisor Mercurini moved to accept the amendments and Supervisor Kim seconded the motion; the chair called for objections and members indicated consent. Greg Wagner, the Mayor’s budget director, submitted an addendum transferring eight positions as administrative corrections and detailed technical adjustments that the committee said increase available funds by a $346,408 general‑fund technical adjustment and revenue adjustments the budget office characterized as roughly $9,196,000, including sales‑tax changes and an appropriation of about $2,050,000 from a Land America settlement to the city attorney and district attorney offices.

On process and next steps, the committee agreed to reschedule certain items: items 1 and 2 (the Annual Appropriation Ordinance and related salary/position orders) were moved to the June/July 12 meeting, and the Redevelopment Agency and Treasure Island Development Authority budget items were moved off the current calendar for separate consideration. Clerk Victor Young confirmed that items 1 and 2 of both agendas were recommended as amended and that other listed items were recommended.

Members repeatedly thanked staff, the mayor’s office and budget analysts for their work. Several supervisors emphasized this year’s process involved more community engagement and that labor partners assumed savings that helped the package come together. "We have asked our labor partners in the fire department and the police department and the nurses to assume a level of savings that they didn't have to do," Chu said, thanking labor for their cooperation.

On Proposition J — legislation discussed separately from the AAO/ASO package — supervisors agreed to continue the item to the call of the chair to allow additional conversations with labor and with the budget analyst about options. Supervisor Kim and Supervisor Chiu moved and seconded the continuance; the committee agreed. Chair Chu characterized Proposition J as "a proposition J that would result in no layoff" and said members were still vetting whether its provisions and related wage/deskilling issues could be implemented without unintended consequences. The committee also discussed the board’s contract‑renewal timing for the budget analyst and heard from a Deputy City Attorney that a decision to exercise a contract renewal option would need to be made in time for an August 1 notice to the analyst if the board wished to exercise the two‑year option.

The committee adjourned after confirming the recommendations and next steps. No formal roll‑call vote tally was entered in the transcript; motions were approved or items continued by unanimous consent or agreement as recorded in the meeting.