Planning Department outlines budget cuts, proposes elimination of vacant positions
January 25, 2024 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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City planning officials on Thursday presented the Planning Department’s proposed resource allocation for fiscal years 2024–26, warning of shrinking fee revenue and staff cuts while pledging to maintain equity‑focused work.
Budget and grants analyst Katie Lay told the commission that the mayor’s office directed departments to reduce general‑fund requests by 10% per year. The mayor’s office projected a $245 million deficit in FY24–25 and a $554 million deficit in FY25–26, and department staff proposed a net reduction of about $920,000 in general‑fund support and a $3 million reduction in fee revenue. "We reduced our general fund by, 920 ks as instructed by the mayor's office, and we reduced our fee revenue by $3,000,000," Lay said.
Director Rich Hillis described how the department expects to balance targets primarily by eliminating vacant positions and pausing some projects. "Our team on the finance side has been able to manage this primarily through vacant positions and eliminating vacant positions," Hillis said. Staff said the proposal assumes deleting about 10 vacant positions out of roughly 21 currently vacant roles; detailed FTE changes in the staff report show a decline from about 225.6 to 207.55 FTEs.
Commissioners pressed for more detail on which divisions and programs would be affected by cuts and asked how reductions could affect internship programs and equity‑centered work. Staff said the high‑school internship is funded through other resources and will be retained, while the college internship program was pared back this cycle. The department also emphasized that grants and special revenues remain a key part of its program budget and that community equity tools will still be applied to proposed work programs.
The presentation was informational; no commission vote was required. Staff said the department will continue to refine the budget, submit it to the mayor’s office in February, and return for subsequent hearings with updated materials.
Budget and grants analyst Katie Lay told the commission that the mayor’s office directed departments to reduce general‑fund requests by 10% per year. The mayor’s office projected a $245 million deficit in FY24–25 and a $554 million deficit in FY25–26, and department staff proposed a net reduction of about $920,000 in general‑fund support and a $3 million reduction in fee revenue. "We reduced our general fund by, 920 ks as instructed by the mayor's office, and we reduced our fee revenue by $3,000,000," Lay said.
Director Rich Hillis described how the department expects to balance targets primarily by eliminating vacant positions and pausing some projects. "Our team on the finance side has been able to manage this primarily through vacant positions and eliminating vacant positions," Hillis said. Staff said the proposal assumes deleting about 10 vacant positions out of roughly 21 currently vacant roles; detailed FTE changes in the staff report show a decline from about 225.6 to 207.55 FTEs.
Commissioners pressed for more detail on which divisions and programs would be affected by cuts and asked how reductions could affect internship programs and equity‑centered work. Staff said the high‑school internship is funded through other resources and will be retained, while the college internship program was pared back this cycle. The department also emphasized that grants and special revenues remain a key part of its program budget and that community equity tools will still be applied to proposed work programs.
The presentation was informational; no commission vote was required. Staff said the department will continue to refine the budget, submit it to the mayor’s office in February, and return for subsequent hearings with updated materials.
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