Fire Commission approves conceptual SFFD operating budget as city seeks deep savings

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Feb. 11 conceptually approved the San Francisco Fire Department's operating budget submittal for the next two fiscal years and authorized staff to send the department's proposal to the mayor's office.

Mark Corso, deputy director of finance and planning for the department, told commissioners the department is proposing roughly $573 million in operating funds across the two-year submittal and that the document is still a work in progress. "This is still very much a work in progress," Corso said, adding that the submittal represents a strategic concept rather than a set of final numbers.

The submission comes as the mayor's office has asked city departments collectively to find $400 million in ongoing savings to help close a multiyear structural deficit. Corso said the budget outlook presented to the commission reflected a projected citywide deficit scenario of about $297 million for the coming fiscal year and $640 million the following year if no solutions are identified.

Why it matters: SFFD estimated that about 91% of its budget goes to personnel and benefits, limiting the department's flexibility. Corso said the department's priority remains maintaining frontline emergency response and continuing a hiring plan that includes two firefighter academies per fiscal year and EMS backfill academies to sustain staffing levels.

Commissioners questioned staffing assumptions, academy sizes and retirement projections. Corso said the department is budgeted for a class size of 54 in the August academy, and that roughly 60 retirements are projected by June 30 under current assumptions; staffing and final numbers are contingent on labor negotiations.

Votes at a glance: The commission moved and seconded approval of the conceptual operating budget and recorded President Paula Collins voting aye and Commissioner Acasio voting aye; the motion passed. Earlier in the meeting, the commission also approved minutes from the Jan. 28 special meeting; Vice President Allen Lowe recorded an abstention because he was not present at that meeting.

What comes next: The department will submit a finalized budget document to the mayor's office on Feb. 23 and will notify the commission of any significant changes between the concept approved today and the final submittal.