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Supervisors narrowly order first‑responder student‑loan forgiveness fund onto November ballot (6–4)
Summary
By a 6–4 vote the board ordered submitted an ordinance to create a first‑responder student loan forgiveness fund, intended to recruit and retain paramedics, nurses, dispatchers and sworn public safety employees. Sponsor Supervisor Safaie said the measure aims to seed the fund with $1 million and ultimately grow it to $25 million via budget and philanthropic contributions.
The Board of Supervisors voted 6–4 to order submitted to the November 5, 2024 ballot an ordinance creating a first‑responder student loan forgiveness fund. Supervisor Asha Safaie, who introduced the measure, said the fund is designed to attract and retain critical public‑safety and health personnel—police, firefighters, sheriffs, paramedics, registered nurses and 911 dispatchers—by covering outstanding student loans and job‑related educational expenses for employees who remain in qualifying roles for at least three years.
Safaie said the fund should start with at least $1 million and that the aspiration is to scale it toward $25 million to provide up to $25,000 in debt relief per eligible person. She emphasized the measure is intended to catalyze budgetary prioritization and philanthropic support rather than create an immediate dedicated budget set‑aside.
The clerk recorded votes showing six ayes and four nos; Supervisors Ronan, Mandelmann, Melgar and Peskin voted no. The motion was ordered submitted.
