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Budget committee forwards botanical garden fee extension and $195,176 appropriation to full board after hours of testimony
Summary
After extended debate and a long public comment period, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Budget & Finance Committee voted to advance two linked ordinances — one extending the botanical garden nonresident admission fee and one appropriating $195,176 from the general fund — to the full Board without recommendation, while asking for further financial details from Rec & Park and the Botanical Garden Society.
The Budget and Finance Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 5 advanced two linked ordinances to the full Board after hours of presentations, questions and more than two hours of public comment.
Chair Carmen Chu opened the hearing on an ordinance to extend admission fees at the San Francisco Botanical Garden for non‑San Francisco residents and a separate ordinance to appropriate $195,176 from the general fund to offset the reduction in Botanical Garden fee revenue. After testimony from department officials, the budget analyst and dozens of residents and stakeholders, the committee agreed to send both items to the full Board without recommendation and with selected budget‑analyst amendments.
Why it matters: The dispute centers on a trade‑off between generating steady revenue to support recreation and park services and concerns that the admission checkpoint and fee exclude residents and reduce visitation at a public garden. Recreation and Park Department officials argue the fee helps subsidize gardeners, maintenance and…
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