Two-Year Budget Proposal for 12 City Departments Includes Nearly $5 Billion in Capital Investments & Safety, Resiliency & Quality of Life Improvements for Neighborhoods, Residents & Families
San Francisco, CA – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Edwin M. Lee today presented his proposed May 1st budget for the City’s four enterprise Departments (the Airport, Municipal Transportation Agency, Port, and Public Utilities Commission) as well as eight self-funded departments (Board of Appeals, Building Inspection, Child Support Services, Environment, Law Library, Library, Rent Arbitration Board, and Retirement System), as well as support for the San Francisco Unified School District, totaling $6.8 billion over Fiscal Years 2016-17 and 2017-18.
“This budget invests in the quality of life in all of our diverse neighborhoods,” said Mayor Lee. “We are modernizing our waterfront, our water, power, and sewer infrastructure, and our streets and transit systems to make our City safer. At the same time we are helping our families and residents succeed and thrive with additional library hours, Muni service increases, and safer streets and buildings. As we work together with our Board of Supervisors and the community on a fully balanced City budget, residents will see even more investments to improve quality of life in every neighborhood.”
Over the coming year, branch libraries will be open more. The Library will increase hours at 14 branches from 45 to 50 hours per week (a 5 percent increase system wide). This expansion allows all libraries in the City to stay open at least 50 hours per week – and six more branches will be open every day. The expanded hours of operation will provide additional library services and programs for approximately 300,000 residents, 49,000 of whom are between the ages of 0-19. Enhanced access to library services will support academic achievement for school age children, promote digital inclusion, and enrich the lives of seniors and diverse communities. The Library will also make capital improvements to its Chinatown, Ocean View, and Mission branches.
In FY 2016-17, the MTA will fully implement its historic ten percent service increase, putting more vehicles on the street across the City. Continued implementation of Muni Forward will increase service in every neighborhood while adding more late night transit, new routes, and improvements to existing routes. A safe, reliable Muni system that is affordable to everyone is essential to the City’s mobility and economic vitality. To that end, Muni will continue to provide free Muni service for low- and moderate-income youth, seniors, and people with disabilities, while increasing the upper age limit for discounted youth fares from 17 to 18. Lifeline passes will continue to provide reduced fares for qualified low-income Muni customers.
In the public realm, the MTA’s budget will enhance street safety for all users—including pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers—with nearly $70 million allocated for 30 safety-related capital projects consistent with the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating pedestrian fatalities by 2024.
The May 1st budget consists of 12 of San Francisco’s 53 departments. The May 1st budget includes major investments in capital improvement projects, short- and long-term safety initiatives, and additional services for
neighborhoods across the City. The proposed two-year budget includes $4.9 billion in capital investments to advance these priorities. Over the life of these projects, over 41,000 jobs will be supported. Four enterprise City departments are making major capital investments over the next two years that will deliver new and refurbished terminals and a hotel at the Airport; safer streets; better transit; improved water and wastewater facilities; and a more resilient, modern waterfront.
As we plan for long-term safety, we must address immediate building and street safety concerns. The proposed budget for the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) includes funding for culturally competent, multi-lingual fire safety outreach services in vulnerable communities. The Mayor’s Nuisance Abatement Revolving Loan Fund will create an affordable housing financing mechanism to help homeowners make safety and code compliance improvements.
The PUC’s budget includes our new community choice aggregation program, CleanPowerSF. This local energy alternative will reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions and build out San Francisco’s local renewable resources, stabilize energy prices over the long-run, spur local job creation, and build a more sustainable future.
The Mayor’s May 1st budget proposal is the first step in crafting a balanced budget for the coming two fiscal years. Over the coming few weeks, working with the Board of Supervisors, residents, businesses, and stakeholders, Mayor Lee must close a $246.4 million two-year General Fund shortfall by June 1st and will do so without cutting existing services and finalize a balanced budget that best embodies San Francisco’s values and priorities.
The Mayor’s proposed May 1st Budget is available online, go to: http://sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=880.
