Budget committee forwards restorations, debates safeguards after $43.7 million add‑back

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Budget & Finance Committee voted on July 1 to forward a consolidated budget and restoration package that restores roughly $43.7 million in general‑fund items and directed the Controller’s Office to make technical adjustments.

Chair John Avalos opened the meeting by noting the work to close a budget deficit that exceeded half a billion dollars and said the committee had produced a balanced plan “without dependency on tax measures on the November ballot.” Nani Coloretti, the mayor’s budget director, told the committee that staff and analysts identified nearly $43.7 million in general‑fund restorations and had set aside $18,000,000 ‘‘to address any shortfalls’’ related to anticipated state actions.

Supervisors praised restorations that prioritize substance‑abuse and mental‑health treatment, violence prevention, family support, senior services, homeless‑prevention programs and AIDS/HIV services. Board President Carmen Chu said, “This budget will save lives,” and multiple supervisors emphasized the risks posed by an uncertain state budget.

A contentious late proposal to deappropriate $450,000 from trial courts and transfer the funds to the Public Defender’s Office was introduced and debated but not adopted. The motion (moved by a committee member and seconded) drew objections from Chair Avalos, who said he had been ‘‘blindsided’’ and preferred time to consider the change; the mover later rescinded or tabled the motion with agreement to revisit the matter at the full Board or in two weeks.

Committee members also debated procedural safeguards they characterized as ‘‘insurance’’ to prevent unilateral midyear administrative cuts that could undo restorations. Coloretti read a letter from the mayor committing to consult the Board before taking midyear actions and noting the $18 million set aside for anticipated state reductions; several supervisors described the mayoral letter as insufficient protection.

Following the discussion, the committee approved two motions recommended by the Controller’s Office: to integrate the restoration package and revenue adjustments into the budget and to authorize the Controller’s Office to make the technical accounting entries needed to enact those adjustments. Both motions were seconded and taken without objection. The committee also voted to forward the Annual Appropriation Ordinance and the Annual Salary Ordinance to the full Board with recommendation.

Next steps: the budget package will be taken up by the full Board of Supervisors in July; several supervisors said they expect to return if state actions or midyear adjustments threaten the restorations approved by the committee.

Sources: Remarks and motions recorded during the Budget & Finance Committee meeting on July 1, 2009.