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Newsom’s Budget Eliminates 1,085 positions, Preserves Funding for Healthcare, Streets, Police Officers, Homelessness, Education, and Housing
06/02/08 - Today at the San Francisco Police Department Tactical Operations Center on Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Mayor Gavin Newsom submitted his proposed 2008-2009 budget to the Board of Supervisors.
"This year we faced some tough choices," said Newsom. "This budget makes careful, balanced decisions to invest in our city’s basic needs and infrastructure while supporting our residents with vital services and housing. Through creative approaches, diligent management, and a commitment to working in new and efficient ways, we will continue to protect the priorities that make San Francisco a safe, healthy, and vibrant place to live."
The proposed 2008-2009 budget was balanced through a series of savings ideas and reductions that included position eliminations and layoffs, across-the-board reductions to department budgets, reductions in overtime, and savings from labor contracts. The budget also benefited from a series of mid-year cuts and a hiring freeze.
Healthcare
Newsom’s budget invests $37 million for Healthy San Francisco, San Francisco’s universal healthcare program, an increase from $25 million last year, to ensure that all uninsured San Franciscans have access to healthcare.
Streets
Newsom’s budget invests $2.3 million more for street repaving over last year, for a total of $38.7 million. This investment, for the second year in a row, meets the city’s repaving needs.
Public Safety
Newsom’s budget improves public safety by investing $4.9 million for three more academy classes, ensuring that the San Francisco Police Department will reach full mandated staffing levels for the first time in the City’s history.
Homelessness and Housing
Newsom’s budget continues to fight the battle of chronic homelessness by investing $196 million for services and to place homeless clients into permanent supportive housing. In addition, Newsom invests $30.8 million towards development of 410 units of senior affordable housing, $28.6 million to support construction of 668 units of rental housing for families, and $28.6 million to support homeownership programs, including down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
Education
To ensure that San Francisco continues to be the highest performing urban school district in the state, Newsom’s budget invests $48 million in education, including $14.8 million for Wellness Centers, Anti-truancy programs and new service-learning initiatives and $22.5 million through Prop H for sports, libraries, arts and music.
Community Investment
Newsom’s budget expands jobs for at risk 16-24 year olds by investing $3.5 million to add at least 800 more jobs in partnerships across the city and with the nonprofit community. In addition, Newsom invests $5 million more for Hope SF to rebuild San Francisco’s worst public housing developments, including $3 million for Hunters View predevelopment work and $2 million for Housing Authority immediate repairs.
The Mayor’s 2008-2009 Proposed Budget is available online (PDF). The interactive e-budget, featuring high level summaries of the proposed 2008-2009 expenditures and investments for major service areas, can be found at www.sfgov.org/ebudget.
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