Local Budget
[From Coleman Advocates and Human Services Network (HSN)]
The lack of a transparent and democratic local budget process this year has truly been astounding; still days after the budget was released, programs continue to scramble to find out whether they have received cuts.
THE FACTS:
The projected local deficit for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 is now over $410 million.
The $338 million projected deficit for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 was originally $229 million. When the 6-month report came out from the Controller’s office, it went up to $233 million. With the over-population of SF jails and the need to open more facilities, the number was adjusted again to $251 million. With state cuts and a revenue adjustment, the impact on SF was projected to be an additional $60 million, which would bring us to a deficit totaling $311M. On March 21, the Controller’s Office released the Three-Year Budget Projection and the projected deficit then totaled $338.4 million. Finally, with the Governor’s May Revised Budget released, an additional $72.5 million in cuts to San Francisco now brings our local deficit to over $410 million for FY 08-09.
There are “cost-savings” plans in effect that are reducing the total deficit. This includes:
$18 million midyear ‘cuts’ that have gone into effect. Buster’s Place (24 hr homeless drop in shelter) has closed.
Other immediate actions like eliminating 300 vacant positions are being discussed and implemented now, in this fiscal year.
Departments have been asked for 18% in cuts since December, including an 8% salary reduction. The Department of Public Health and the Human Services Agency in particular are being forced to make choices about cuts that will lead to the closure of programs.
Over a thousand city employee layoffs are being projected. Unions have been asked to renegotiate their contracts with the city, but so far, only the MEA (Municipal Executives’ Association) has agreed to concessions in their contracts for the next 2 years.
The proposed cost-savings plans so far do not solve the deficit.
WHERE WE’RE AT NOW:
The Board of Supervisors has begun its process of cutting and adding back funding for the final FY 2008-09 budget. As it stands, over 150 nonprofits are facing cuts that total close to $20 million—the worst health and human service cut in history. If we don’t stop these cuts, dozens of programs will be gone overnight on July 1, thousands of service recipients will have no place to turn, and hundreds of our dedicated workers will lose their jobs.
This Board has always been supportive and will do everything they can to reverse as many cuts as possible. But they will not have much money to move this year, and will face political opposition over many of the cuts they need to make to save community programs.
What the Board needs from us is an unprecedented turnout at the hearings. Without a major public show of support for our services, the Board will have a difficult time allocating the funding these programs need to survive.
We need all of you—and your staff, board of directors, clients where appropriate, and your supporters — to come to the Board this week. There are two major hearings:
HSN has prepared a document that summarizes the impacts of the proposed budget cuts.
Related posts:
- LOCAL POLICY [from Human Services Network (HSN)]
- LOCAL POLICY (from Human Services Network (HSN) Bulletin 12.15.08)
- LOCAL BUDGET [From Coleman Advocates Family Budget Coalition]
- Local Budget [From Family Budget Coalition]
- Human Services Network e-Newsletter: San Francisco Board restores most cuts to FY07-08 Budget
