Board takes first votes on annual budget ordinance; supervisors stress tradeoffs

San Francisco — The Board of Supervisors on July 21 moved budget items 4 through 19 forward together as part of the annual appropriation package for fiscal years ending June 30, 2027 and 2028.

Clerk's staff described the principal elements of the package — the budget and appropriation ordinance, the annual salary ordinance, amendments to administrative codes, funding adjustments for early care and education, Department of Public Health patient rates, and proposed bond issuance for OCII enforceable obligations — and committee chair Supervisor Chan urged colleagues to support first votes.

Supervisor Fielder said the budget “closes a massive deficit without mass layoffs,” while acknowledging tradeoffs. He singled out a planned 14% pay increase for police over four years, saying that was not where he would have prioritized limited dollars but that the budget nevertheless protected critical social‑safety‑net programs that tens of thousands of San Franciscans depend on.

"This budget is not everything many of us would have wanted, but it's a fight worth continuing into next year's budget," Fielder said and announced his intent to vote in support. Several other supervisors voiced support during the roll calls, and the clerk confirmed that the ordinances were passed on first reading, with some items finalized subject to subsequent public process.

What’s next: Supervisors reserved final comment on specific files until subsequent meetings; the Board indicated additional hearings and a final vote would follow the usual ordinance and budget timeline.