Rules Committee advances Greg Wagner nomination for City controller with amended effective date

Supervisor Hilary Ronan opened the hearing by urging the committee to approve Greg Wagner, praising outgoing Controller Ben Rosenfeld and describing Wagner’s long record in city finance.

“I'm deeply honored to be nominated for this position,” Wagner said, outlining 17 years in financial management and 12 years as CFO and chief operating officer at the Department of Public Health. He said the controller’s office must be a voice for “integrity, ethics, accountability, and a steward of the city's long-term interests” and emphasized the office’s role in using data and audits to support policymaking.

During questioning, Supervisor Walton asked how Wagner would preserve independence while serving in an appointed role; Wagner said he would “root” decisions in the city charter, ordinances and administrative code and maintain ongoing conversation with the mayor’s office, the Board and departments. Walton also asked how the controller could improve nonprofit contracting; Wagner described existing efforts on consistent COLA treatment, streamlined monitoring and capacity building for community-based providers.

Supervisor Safaie pressed Wagner on audits and the city’s budget outlook. Safaie cited recent audit work that found deficiencies in the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and said the "most recent numbers" show "about $800 million" of deficit pressure over two years and questioned whether that gap could approach $1.4 billion. Wagner said the short- and long-term response will require layered solutions including technical financial analysis (debt restructuring, capital–general fund alignment), better revenue forecasting and use of the city performance unit to identify consolidation and efficiency options.

Outgoing Controller Ben Rosenfeld spoke in support of Wagner, calling him an "honest broker" and praising his analytical approach and experience as mayor’s budget director and in the Health Department.

Before the committee vote, Chair Ronan proposed an amendment to clarify the effective date language: the controller’s 10-year term should run from the latter of the motion’s effective date or Controller Rosenfeld’s resignation. The committee also agreed to delete the word “rejects” throughout the draft language. The amendment passed on a roll-call (Walton, Safaie, Ronan: aye), and the committee then voted unanimously to forward the amended nomination to the full Board as a committee report.

The Rules Committee vote advances the nomination but does not itself confirm Wagner; the full Board must take final action.