SF Budget Recap & Reflections
2025
In the early hours of June 26, our fate as voters was decided by a handful of representatives who ultimately bowed to the mayor's whims. Only two voices defended our right to demand that Proposition C: Our City Our Home funds be used in a timely manner for what we, the voters, decided. We thank Supervisor Shamann Walton for his courage in being the only member of the Budget & Appropriations Committee to vote oppositionally. We also thank Supervisor Jackie Fielder for naming the risks to our democracy when we give up the will of the people, the voters who shaped and fought for Prop C.
Many cuts were made that will greatly impact our communities, our coalition partners, and the staff that dedicate their time to make our vital programs work. After the many many hours we spent at City Hall with the People’s Budget Coalition, we were able to win back funding for key programs like Code Enforcement Outreach Programs for SRO tenants, and we restored funding for Filipinx, LGBTQ, Transitional Age Youth, and Senior services.
Despite our efforts, the City did not restore funding for Immigrant Legal Services and the Dignity Fund, which was one of our priorities. There were many cuts, and it is obvious that this budget has been balanced on the backs of low-income and working class San Franciscans.
The Mayor and Supervisors announced throughout this budget season that no department or community would be happy with the results, and that everyone would have to sacrifice in order to balance the deficit, but it is clear that was not truthful. Departments like the District Attorney and Police are directly benefiting from San Franciscans losing millions in critical life saving services and hundreds of nonprofit and union workers will lose their jobs as a result.
Today, we propose that you join us, so everyone in this city knows that if we don't unite in our fight, they will take away what we have worked so hard for. Our community will face great challenges. The Mayor has never known what it means to live day to day, to wake up in pain and get ready for work because if you don't work, you and your family cannot live. Everyone in this city is being disenfranchised in one way or another, despite the fact that we are the ones who have made San Francisco a thriving city.
In the next few days, we ask that you take some time to speak out and call the Mayor and the other members of the Budget & Appropriations Committee; Chair Connie Chan, as well as Board President Rafael Mandelman, and Supervisors Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey. We will be back at City Hall on July 8 at 2pm at the full Board of Supervisors meeting to continue protecting Prop C: Our City Our Home funding.
This is not the time to bow down and accept the dictates of the Mayor. Let's take to the streets and inform everyone about the violations against our will as voters. It's true that we don't have the millions that those in power have, but we have each other, and that can lead us to victory.
Calls to Action:
If you care about programs that were cut, email or call the Mayor and Budget Committee and share your disappointment! You can contact the Mayor ar at daniel.lurie@sfgov.org, 415-554-6141. Find Board of Supervisors contact info at sfbos.org. Members of the Budget Committee to contact: Sups. Chan, Mandelman, Engardio, and Dorsey. Find details on the cuts on Facebook or Instagram.
Show up to City Hall on Tuesday, July 8 for the Board of Supervisors meeting at 2pm. They will be voting on whether to eliminate the requirement for a supermajority vote to move money across voter-approved categories. This could significantly impact funding from Prop C: Our City Our Home, which would end up slashing housing funds, expanding ineffective shelters, and giving the Mayor even more control of city funds – against the wishes of voters. We need to show up and tell them why this is unacceptable! If you’re interested in joining, email itzel@sdaction.org for more information.
Write a letter in support of protecting Prop C funding for housing. As soon as possible please take these steps (sample letters from Coalition on Homelessness):
ACTION STEP 1: SEND A LETTER TO THE BOARD
Here is sample language for letter. By the vote on July 15TH please email to: Chyanne.Chen@sfgov.org, myrna.melgar@sfgov.org, Bilal.Mahmood@sfgov.org, Joel.engardio@sfgov.org Board.of.supervisors@sfgov.org,
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Dear Supervisor,
I am writing to strongly urge you to reject Section 4 from the trailing legislation (File No. 250609) associated with Proposition C, Our City Our Home (2018):
Section 4. Under the authority in Business and Tax Regulations Code Section 2811, if future revenues and future earned interest deposited in the OCOH Fund exceed the amounts appropriated in the adopted budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, the Board of Supervisors authorizes the City to expend up to $19,100,000 of such additional Mayor Lurie revenues or interest future revenues that will be deposited in the OCOH Fund through fiscal year 2027-28, after addressing the specified costs required under subsections 2810(b)(1) and (2), among any or all of the eligible programs to address or prevent homelessness as described in subsections 2810(b)(3)(A)-(D), notwithstanding the specific percentage allocations that would otherwise apply, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors by appropriation.
This is a precedent setting departure from the provisions of Prop C. Voters specifically required a supermajority of the Board of Supervisors to approve any changes to Prop C allocations. Section 4 of this legislation weakens the voters' deliberate safeguard by enabling reallocation with only a simple majority vote. This hurts voters today and this hurts voters tomorrow.
Hundreds of San Franciscans gathered on the steps of city hall on July 8th and thousands of letters have been sent. The message was simple: Reject the removal of the supermajority.
The removal of the supermajority requirement is a major departure from previous versions of Prop C trailing legislation. This change undermines the will of the voters and puts the integrity of citizen initiatives at risk. The Board and Mayor must honor the intent of the voters as well as the citizen initiative process protected in the San Francisco Charter. We know if the Mayor has a good proposal, he will get the votes.
We call on you to respect the will of the voters and proponents of Prop C and reject this section of the trailing legislation. Please don’t break the promise Prop C made to voters.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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ACTION STEP 2: SEND A LETTER TO THE MAYOR
Here is sample language for letter. By the vote on July 14TH please email to: daniel.lurie@sfgov.org, kunal.modi@sfgov.org
Dear Mayor Lurie:
We are deeply dismayed that you are calling on the Board of Supervisors to remove the super majority requirement for two years for $19m in Prop C. I am writing to strongly urge you walk back this proposal and to let the Supervisors know you no longer need this to happen, that they don’t need to ignore the thousands of letters and calls they have been getting, that it is OK to reject Section 4 from the trailing legislation (File No. 250609) associated with Proposition C, Our City Our Home (2018):
Section 4. Under the authority in Business and Tax Regulations Code Section 2811, if future revenues and future earned interest deposited in the OCOH Fund exceed the amounts appropriated in the adopted budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, the Board of Supervisors authorizes the City to expend up to $19,100,000 of such additional Mayor Lurie revenues or interest future revenues that will be deposited in the OCOH Fund through fiscal year 2027-28, after addressing the specified costs required under subsections 2810(b)(1) and (2), among any or all of the eligible programs to address or prevent homelessness as described in subsections 2810(b)(3)(A)-(D), notwithstanding the specific percentage allocations that would otherwise apply, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors by appropriation.
Mayor Lurie, this is a precedent setting departure from the provisions of Prop C. Voters specifically required a supermajority of the Board of Supervisors to approve any changes to Prop C allocations. Section 4 of this legislation weakens the voters' deliberate safeguard by enabling reallocation with only a simple majority vote. This hurts voters today and this hurts voters tomorrow LONG AFTER YOU ARE IN OFFICE.
Hundreds of San Franciscans gathered on the steps of city hall on July 8th and thousands of letters have been sent. The message was simple: Reject the removal of the supermajority.
The removal of the supermajority requirement is a major departure from previous versions of Prop C trailing legislation. This change undermines the will of the voters and puts the integrity of this and all future citizen initiatives at risk. Please honor the intent of the voters as well as the citizen initiative process protected in the San Francisco Charter. If you have a good proposal, your will get the votes at the Board. You don’t need to break the promise made to voters.
We call on you to respect the will of the voters and proponents of Prop C and reject this section of the trailing legislation.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.