Board approves $86M police overtime shift after heated debate on accountability

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 9–2 on May 6 to approve an ordinance that reallocates roughly $86 million within the police department’s fiscal year budget to cover accumulated overtime and authorizes drawing about $5.74 million from the general fund reserve for sheriff overtime. Supervisors Fielder and Walton voted no.

Supporters of the appropriation said rejecting the measure would force the city controller to freeze police budgets, prevent payment of bills and risk disrupting public safety operations. Supervisor Mahmoud said while the city must demand improved operations and recruiting from the police and sheriff’s departments, “in the interest of maintaining our public safety operations and keeping residents safe,” he would vote yes. Controller Greg Wagner told the board that payment for hours already worked had been processed via payroll and that without the appropriation the controller’s office would restrict nonessential spending to try to meet obligations but could not realistically offset the accumulated overtime.

Opponents framed the vote as an accountability issue. Supervisor Walton, who voted no, pressed whether the Department of Human Resources had previously allowed the police department latitude during the COVID emergency to relax enforcement of an overtime‑related attendance provision and questioned why the department had not returned to prior rules. Walton said repeated midyear appropriations gave the department a “blank check” and would not change behavior without stronger oversight. Supervisor Fielder cited audit findings and questioned where accountability for enforcing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and overtime rules lies.

Several supervisors cited a recent performance audit and hearings in the Budget and Appropriations Committee showing mismanagement of sick time and overtime allocation. Supervisor Chen said the department had enabled “a systematic pattern of officers offering their services as a private security for hire,” diminishing presence in neighborhoods and undermining public trust. Supervisor Sauter urged the board to add guardrails, to prioritize hiring and recruitment, and to require clearer overtime practices and reporting.

City Human Resources representative Artis Graham said DHR had given latitude to the department during the pandemic but did not have a record of permission for the last fiscal year; Chief Lazaro of SFPD told the board the department had ‘‘stayed with’’ the changed practice since 2021 because of staffing and safety concerns. Later in the discussion Controller Wagner explained the difference between shifting salary savings inside departmental budgets and drawing from the general fund reserve; the appropriation included both a budgetary shift inside the police department and a separate draw from reserves to cover the sheriff’s overrun.

The ordinance passed on first reading. The clerk recorded the roll call as Engardio, Mahmoud, Mandelmann, Melgar, Sauter, Cheryl, Chan, Chen, and Dorsey voting aye; Fielder and Walton voting no. The board did not record a formal motion maker in the hearing transcript.

What’s next: The appropriation proceeds through first reading; supervisors and staff said they expect further committee work during the coming budget cycle to pursue improved oversight, recruitment plans and clearer reporting of overtime use.