Public Works Commission approves FY26–27 budget submittal with $13.8M general‑fund reduction plan

The San Francisco Public Works Commission approved the department's proposed FY2025–26 and FY2026–27 operating and capital budgets and priorities for transmittal to the mayor on Feb. 13, after a detailed presentation by Deputy Director/CFO Bruce Robertson.

Robertson presented proposed totals of roughly $406 million for FY26 and $351.9 million for FY27, and outlined a scenario to meet a mayoral instruction for a 15% reduction in general‑fund support for the department—about $13.8 million. He said the department's five‑year forecast shows a widening structural gap and that citywide fiscal instructions (including a hiring freeze and pauses on new contracts) make the midterm outlook challenging.

To reach the 15% target, Robertson proposed a mix of surgical cuts and program adjustments: a $4.7 million reduction to the Pit Stop public restroom/cleaning program (which will require selective closures or reduced hours in some locations), roughly $2.1 million in temporary‑staff reductions, $1.5 million in overhead/administrative savings achieved via many small line‑item cuts, $1.2 million in eliminated grant‑funded sidewalk power washing and enhanced street sweeping programs, modest overtime reductions, and other technical/one‑time adjustments. He said the department will try to mitigate service impacts by expanding partnerships with Community Benefit Districts (CBDs) and nonprofits and by using performance data to target reductions.

Staff warned that some areas could see localized increases in service orders (staff estimated up to about a 20% increase in particular locations and times), and that tonnage collected could rise. Robertson said fee adjustments (excavation/subdivision fees and major encroachment fees) are being considered to improve cost recovery, and that Proposition B bond funds and refuse‑rate board decisions are other budget levers to watch.

Commissioners pressed for more granular attachments (for example, bid breakdowns and traffic control line items) and asked for tonnage and service‑order data to demonstrate the operational workload; staff committed to providing those details after the meeting. Commissioners also discussed public messaging: several asked staff to consider proactive communications about likely service impacts, while communications staff said it is premature to launch a campaign before mayoral and supervisory decisions.

A motion to approve the department's FY26–27 proposed budgets and priorities for transmittal was moved and seconded; the commission approved the submission unanimously. Robertson noted that the mayor's office and the Board of Supervisors will likely make further adjustments before final budgets are adopted, and staff will return with final figures after those processes conclude.