Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced a number of Community Engagement events to get the public more involved in the budget process and educate residents about the Mayor’s budget principles as he builds a balanced two-year budget. The Mayor will co-host District Based Budget Town Halls with the Board of Supervisors and will also provide online forums to hear directly from San Franciscans about their budget priorities and ideas; and their  issues and concerns as the City balances its first ever two-year budget.

“We need to hear directly from our residents about the issues that matter most to them,” said Mayor Lee. “We must build a balanced budget that not only ensures that San Franciscans get the city services they need, but one that will set the City on a steady course to fiscal solvency. My goal is to stimulate the local economy, create good jobs, and encourage innovative efficiencies within City departments and programs, and I am eager to share these principles with the public and hear directly from them.” Read more.

Today Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced that the federal government has once again demonstrated strong support for planned improvements to public transportation in San Francisco. President Barack Obama’s federal budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013 includes a recommendation for $150 million in funding for the Central Subway Project and $10 million to implement bus rapid transit on Van Ness Avenue.

“These crucial investments in our City’s transportation infrastructure continue to receive strong support from the highest levels of the federal government,” said Mayor Lee. “We thank President Obama, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Senators Feinstein and Boxer and all our federal partners for their consistent leadership and their commitment to improving public transit, creating jobs and investing in San Francisco.” Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the creation of the Housing Trust Fund Working Group. The broad working group is tasked with designing a ballot measure that would create a permanent source of revenue to fund the creation of housing that is affordable to low income, moderate income and middle-class households in San Francisco. Mayor Lee will work with the Board of Supervisors and the community to develop a measure for the November 2012 Ballot.

"If we can come together to tackle tough issues like pension reform, we can surely work together to create a permanent source of revenue to fund the production of housing in San Francisco at every level of the economic spectrum," said Mayor Lee. "Affordable and middle class housing are critical to the economic diversity and economic vitality of our City. With the elimination of affordable housing and a nearly 50 percent decrease in federal affordable housing funds this year alone, we must innovate locally to ensure San Francisco remains a place that everyone can call home." Read more.

Today Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined by Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague announced the introduction at the Board of Supervisors a $1.8 million budget supplemental for HIV/AIDS care and treatment funding to protect essential services to the City’s most vulnerable despite severe budget shortfalls.

“Building upon the tremendous leadership of Leader Pelosi in Congress on the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act, San Francisco will continue to sustain investments in HIV/AIDS care and treatment,” said Mayor Lee. “Despite continued historic budget challenges, we remain committed to funding critical care services for those living with HIV/AIDS in San Francisco.” Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today signed the City & County of San Francisco’s Fiscal Year 2011-12 budget after today’s final unanimous approval by the Board of Supervisors. The $6.83 billion balanced budget closed a $380 million General Fund budget deficit.

“Our budget reflects our core fundamental values in San Francisco and it is the result of our collective hard work and collaboration over the past several months,” said Mayor Lee. “We are protecting vital services that our residents rely on every day while putting us on a course toward long term financial stability. I thank Board of Supervisors President David Chiu and Supervisor Carmen Chu, Chair of the Board’s Budget & Finance Committee for their leadership and commitment in putting forth a budget that keeps our City safe, solvent and successful.”

Mayor Lee took office in January 2011 facing a $380 million General Fund budget deficit and immediately began an inclusive, collaborative approach to solving the budget shortfall. The budget process included an unprecedented level of public input including ten neighborhood town halls and dozens of meetings with residents, labor organizations, small business owners, non-profit service providers and other stakeholders. Read more.