Board approves ordinance reallocating funds to cover increased fire overtime and departmental adjustments

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 19 approved an ordinance to reallocate and appropriate funds to support projected overtime and staffing needs across the Fire Department, Department of Emergency Management (DEM), and the Public Utilities Commission.

The ordinance, presented as Item 1, moved approximately $1.2 million in ambulance billing revenues and $426,000 of fire overtime service fees into the Fire Department budget; de‑appropriations included $500,000 from DEM permanent salaries and roughly $6 million from the Fire Department permanent salaries. The ordinance also reallocated funds for dependent coverage and added overtime appropriations: about $8,700,000 for fire department overtime, $1,250,000 for PUC overtime, and $500,000 to overtime in DEM.

Clerk staff told the board the measure requires a two‑thirds vote to approve the Fire Department’s roughly $8 million overtime appropriation. The clerk called the roll, and the board recorded 10 ayes. “Without objection, the ordinance is finally passed,” the president stated after the roll call.

Why it matters: The ordinance funds near‑term overtime needs in first‑responder and public utilities services that city staff said are necessary to maintain operations. The measure adjusts permanent salary lines and directs one‑time and ongoing overtime appropriations to cover staffing pressures identified by departments.

What happens next: The ordinance was finally passed and will be reflected in the city’s fiscal accounting. Supervisors did not request additional hearings at the time of final passage.