San Francisco Budget Committee approves fixed two-year budget cycle for key departments

The San Francisco County Budget and Appropriations Committee convened on July 4, 2025, under the leadership of Chair Matt Haney, alongside committee members President Walton, Supervisors Groen, and Safae. The meeting was conducted remotely, allowing public participation through various channels.

The session began with procedural announcements from the clerk, Mr. Brent Lipa, who outlined the public comment process. Participants could provide input via phone or email, with each speaker allotted two minutes. The meeting's agenda included significant discussions on the city's budgetary processes.

The first item addressed was a resolution to adopt a fixed two-year budget cycle for the Airport, Port, and Public Utilities Commission for fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Ashley Graffenburger from the Mayor's Budget Office presented the resolution, explaining that any changes exceeding 5% in revenues or expenditures would necessitate a budget amendment. The committee unanimously supported the motion to forward this resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation.

Following this, items two and three were combined for discussion. These items focused on updates regarding the city's five-year financial plan and the mayor's budget instructions for the upcoming fiscal years. Graffenburger provided insights into the budget outlook, emphasizing the impact of COVID-19 on the city's finances, which had led to significant revenue losses and budget shortfalls. She noted that careful management of reserves and federal funding had been crucial in balancing the budget while maintaining essential services.

The meeting concluded without public comments on the discussed items, and the committee moved forward with a positive recommendation for the resolutions presented. The next steps include the full board's consideration of these budgetary measures, which are critical for the city's financial planning and service delivery in the coming years.