San Francisco Budget Updates, Mid-December 2009

[from Debbi Lerman, San Francisco Human Services Network, 12/14/09]
The Mayor’s complete list of mid-year reductions is expected to be released this week. The Mayor’s Budget Office asked departments to submit their proposals to cut general fund by 3.9% on December 4, but those lists were not made public. However, the Public Health Department list came out today, and the Health Commission will hold a hearing at 4 pm on Tuesday, December 15.

I’ve received no information yet from the Human Services Agency. DCYF said that over half of the proposed mid-year cut consists of internal cost-savings and unspent contract funds that will not affect direct services, but about $400,000 would come from family support services (if the Mayor approves the plan). The Department on the Status of Women said they protected direct services. The Juvenile Probation mid-year cut proposal is posted, but contains only general information. Most of the cuts were to administrative and probation positions.

The Department of Public Health’s mid-year target was $13.2 million, but they were unable to achieve the full reduction. The Mayor approved a lower reduction of $7.4 million. These cuts will also reduce their FY 2010-11 budget by $9.2 million. The DPH budget website has both a summary and the write – ups on each specific cut. Most cuts would take effect in February or March.

The list includes several cuts to substance abuse services, including reducing city funding to backfill state cuts for drug MediCal and Prop 36. The city also plans to close two substance abuse residential facilities as of March 1, using the pending results of the Community Behavorial Health RFP to select the lowest-scoring facilities. The city would also provide only a partial backfill of state HIV prevention reductions, a cut that will eliminate or reduce a number of community-based programs. DPH also projects savings in unexpended contract funds, to be achieved by limiting contract modifications.

Other reductions include some changes in SFGH and LHH staffing (though with minimal layoffs), some programs that can be funded through non-general fund sources, and discontinuing the city’s backfill for the UC Regents Trauma Recovery Center.

Once the Board receives the Mayor’s mid-year cut list this week, they will have 45 days to review it and hold hearings. They may accept some cuts, or substitute equivalent cuts (which do not have to be in the same department). Because the DPH cuts are going to the Board for approval rather than the Health Commission, the Board will also have the required Beilensen hearing during the 45-day review period.

Related posts:

1. Impact of state budget on San Francisco, and next steps with the city budget
2. Budget updates from the San Francisco Human Services Network
3. LOCAL POLICY (from Human Services Network (HSN) Bulletin 12.15.08)
4. State budget and city mid-year reductions
5. Budget Bare Bones: Is This What Our Communities Deserve?