San Francisco Board approves $65M overtime budget for multiple city departments

The San Francisco County Budget Committee convened on July 4, 2025, to discuss four key items related to budget appropriations and legislative analysis. The meeting began with a roll call to ensure the presence of key officials, including Director Anna Dunan.

The first item on the agenda was an ordinance proposing the appropriation of approximately $4.2 million in ambulance service revenue for the Fire Department. Additionally, the ordinance sought to allocate around $62.3 million from permanent salaries and mandatory fringe benefits, and $65.4 million to overtime across several departments, including Emergency Management, Public Health, Public Works, and the Recreation and Parks Department. The ordinance also included an appropriation of about $1.1 million for materials and supplies in the Fire Department to support projected increases in overtime, as mandated by the administrative court. This ordinance requires a two-thirds vote from the Board of Supervisors.

Director Dunan explained that several city departments were requesting additional appropriations for overtime due to overspending. The Budget Legislative Analyst (BLA) provided a report detailing changes, including an increase in overtime for the Department of Public Health from $20.2 million to $30.7 million, primarily driven by additional overtime at San Francisco General Hospital. The Recreation and Parks Department was also included in the ordinance, requesting just over $1 million for overtime, largely due to vacant maintenance positions and public safety concerns in areas like UN Plaza and Union Square.

Nick Menard from the BLA confirmed the recommendations for approval of the ordinance, highlighting the factors contributing to the increased overtime costs. The committee members engaged in discussions regarding the effectiveness of park ranger deployments in high-traffic areas and the need for better coordination with event permittees to manage overtime costs.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for public comments, allowing community members to voice their opinions on the proposed budget items. Overall, the discussions underscored the ongoing challenges faced by city departments in managing overtime expenses while ensuring public safety and maintaining city services. The committee will continue to evaluate these budgetary needs in future sessions.