City officials outline budget process amidst projected $728M deficit for fiscal years 2023-2025
January 11, 2023 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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The San Francisco Fire Commission convened on July 4, 2025, to discuss the city's budget instructions and the fire department's operating budget for the upcoming fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. Mark Corso, the deputy director of finance and planning, presented an overview of the budget process, highlighting significant changes from the previous year.
Corso began by outlining the city's budgetary outlook, noting a projected deficit of approximately $728 million over the next two years, contrasting sharply with the previous year's surplus of $108 million. He attributed this shift to a combination of factors, including a prolonged economic recovery from COVID-19, reduced revenue projections, and increased costs associated with labor negotiations and inflation. The mayor's office has mandated a 5% reduction in general fund support for the first fiscal year and an 8% reduction for the second, translating to cuts of about $6.9 million and $11 million, respectively.
The budget process will follow a structured timeline, with instructions from the mayor's office released in December, departmental budget submissions due in February, and a balanced budget required by June 1. Corso emphasized the importance of transparency and communication throughout this process, especially given the potential for mid-year budget adjustments if economic conditions worsen.
In addition to budget discussions, the commission reviewed an addendum to an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the San Francisco Fire Department and City College of San Francisco. This addendum aims to expand training opportunities for fire department recruits and current personnel, allowing them to earn college credits while participating in various training programs.
Commissioners expressed their concerns regarding the budget cuts and the challenges of maintaining service levels amid financial constraints. They emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue and data-driven decision-making to ensure that the fire department can effectively meet its operational demands.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue discussions on budget priorities and training initiatives in future sessions, ensuring that the fire department remains equipped to serve the community effectively despite the financial challenges ahead.
Corso began by outlining the city's budgetary outlook, noting a projected deficit of approximately $728 million over the next two years, contrasting sharply with the previous year's surplus of $108 million. He attributed this shift to a combination of factors, including a prolonged economic recovery from COVID-19, reduced revenue projections, and increased costs associated with labor negotiations and inflation. The mayor's office has mandated a 5% reduction in general fund support for the first fiscal year and an 8% reduction for the second, translating to cuts of about $6.9 million and $11 million, respectively.
The budget process will follow a structured timeline, with instructions from the mayor's office released in December, departmental budget submissions due in February, and a balanced budget required by June 1. Corso emphasized the importance of transparency and communication throughout this process, especially given the potential for mid-year budget adjustments if economic conditions worsen.
In addition to budget discussions, the commission reviewed an addendum to an existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the San Francisco Fire Department and City College of San Francisco. This addendum aims to expand training opportunities for fire department recruits and current personnel, allowing them to earn college credits while participating in various training programs.
Commissioners expressed their concerns regarding the budget cuts and the challenges of maintaining service levels amid financial constraints. They emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue and data-driven decision-making to ensure that the fire department can effectively meet its operational demands.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue discussions on budget priorities and training initiatives in future sessions, ensuring that the fire department remains equipped to serve the community effectively despite the financial challenges ahead.
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