Finance panel preserves ramp funds but advances reallocation to restore health services

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Finance Committee on March 19 voted to reserve $760,163 that had been budgeted for a wheelchair ramp at the Board—s dais and to send an amended supplemental appropriation to the full Board to restore $944,470 in midyear cuts to community behavioral-health services, public health nursing, and a downtown homeless drop-in center.

Supervisor Daly introduced the measure as an effort to protect services relied on by vulnerable San Franciscans. The proposal would move capital money previously set aside for accessibility work into recurring service funding for Buster—s Place, public health nursing and clinic directors for the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. Ken Bruce of the Budget Analyst—s Office told the committee the uses total $944,470: $244,000 for Buster—s Place, $451,084 for public health nursing and $248,442 for mental-health clinic directors.

The mayor—s budget director, Nani Kolorey, and Human Services Agency Director Joyce Crum told the committee the administration had worked on a transition plan for Buster—s Place: the city proposes opening 150…