Mayor Edwin M. Lee today presented his proposed $6.83 billion balanced budget to the Board of Supervisors for Fiscal Year 2011-12, which closes a $306 million General Fund budget deficit.

Mayor Lee took office in January 2011 facing a $380 million General Fund budget deficit and began an inclusive, collaborative approach to solving the budget shortfall. The budget process included an unprecedented level of public input. Mayor Lee partnered with the Board of Supervisors to hold ten Budget Town Hall meetings throughout the City to solicit public input. In addition, Mayor Lee worked with leaders from community-based organizations in budget working sessions and conducted scores of meetings with members of the Board, City Commissioners, labor organizations, business leaders, neighborhood leaders, and advocates resulting in $28 million in changes to the budget before it was submitted to the Board of Supervisors. Read more.

- Download the Mayor's Proposed Budget:  http://sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=415
 
- Access the SF Budget Challenge:  http://www.sfgov.org/budgetchallenge

Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Supervisor Sean Elsbernd today introduced a proposed Charter amendment for pension and health benefits reform for the November 2011 ballot. After months of working with labor leaders, business leaders, community-based organizations and the City family, the consensus reform measure would restructure San Francisco’s pension and health benefits. The proposed Charter amendment is co-sponsored by Board of Supervisors President David Chiu and Supervisors Carmen Chu, Malia Cohen, Mark Farrell and Scott Wiener.

“Our consensus pension reform measure is comprehensive, balanced, and responsible. It will realize the savings we need so that we can protect vital City services now and in the future,” said Mayor Lee. “It is an important part of our overall strategy to bring structural reforms to San Francisco’s long term financial planning and budgeting and ensures that we have a system that San Francisco can afford, while providing pension and health care to its employees.” Read more.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today launched a centralized online database of City boards and commissions including vacancies and appointments to advisory bodies for the City and County of San Francisco.

“This one-of-a kind interactive tool makes San Francisco government more transparent, efficient and easier to engage in for the public” said Mayor Lee. “By creating an easy and efficient way to search commissions and board vacancies, we improve our ability to attract a diverse and talented pool of candidates.” Read more.

To search the centralized online database of City commissions and boards, go to www.sfgov.org/commissionsdatabase or call 3-1-1.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the launch of the SF Budget Challenge, an interactive online tool that allows the public an opportunity to use real public policy choices with real cost-savings to try to reduce the City’s $306 million deficit. The SF Budget Challenge will allow users to experience first hand the difficult choices in developing a responsible balanced budget. 

“Like many cities and counties across the country, San Francisco faces another difficult budget year,” said Mayor Lee. “The SF Budget Challenge represents the challenging choices we are making to present a balanced budget that will keep our City safe, solvent and successful for years to come. I encourage everyone to try their hand at this innovative tool.” Read more.

To access the SF Budget Challenge, go to www.sfgov.org/budgetchallenge.

Financial Plan Outlines Strategies to Restore Structural Balance to City Budget

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today introduced the first-ever proposed five-year financial plan for San Francisco. The five-year financial plan is a key part of a set of financial reforms designed to move the City toward longer-term financial planning and budgeting, and away from the short-term decisions that have led to repeated annual budget deficits.

“I believe we have the tools at our disposal to bring our budget back into structural balance and stabilize our City’s finances if we are willing to make the right decisions. This plan presents a high-level road map to achieve these goals,” said Mayor Lee. “This plan shows us that there are challenges ahead. But I believe it should be a source of optimism. If we can hold ourselves to a new standard of fiscal discipline in the coming years, we can restore stability to our City finances and escape the cycle of large deficits year after year.” Read more.