WHEREAS, the City and
County of San Francisco is facing a $299 million dollar shortfall for fiscal
year 2004-2005; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health has submitted to the Mayor a base
budget that includes absorbing $19.7 million in unavoidable increases and a
$12.6 million decrease in General Fund usage; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Health has been requested to develop a
contingency plan that will decrease the utilization of its General Fund by an
additional 8.2 percent, which is a $19.7 million reduction; and,
WHEREAS, these cuts will total the largest single year General Fund cuts that
the Department of Public Health has ever had to consider; and,
WHEREAS, included in the contingency budget are $2.6 million of administrative
cuts, which equates to 36.84 fulltime budgeted positions; these administrative
reductions are in addition to the 85 positions that were eliminated in the base
budget; and,
WHEREAS, the Department has worked exhaustively to achieve this level of budget
reductions by focusing on internal operations while minimizing cuts to direct
services, and staff should be applauded for their efforts; and,
WHEREAS, despite these efforts, some reductions will occur and these reduction
will have an impact on services; and,
WHEREAS, the Commission has heard extensive testimony about the reconfiguration
of mental health services within The Mission; and,
WHEREAS, there will be a loss of valued employees who have contributed to the
Department’s mission over many years; and,
WHEREAS, the Health Commission understands that the Mayor and Board of
Supervisors, during these tough fiscal times, will have to pursue all options to
balance the budget, including service reductions, layoffs and new revenue
opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, last year City employees agreed to pay their own retirement benefits so
that safety net services could continue to be provided; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Department is commended for attempting to achieve savings by
reducing infrastructure and administrative services while recommending minimal
service cuts that are mostly support services; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the reconfiguration of mental health services in The
Mission must be studied further prior to the Health Commission recommending its
submission to the Mayor; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission finds that those services that will
be eliminated will negatively impact those people currently being served; and,
be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the infrastructure and administrative cuts will
negatively impact the Department’s ability to effectively and efficiently carry
out its mission but that this will allow preservation of many safety net health
services; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission continues to be deeply concerned
about the extent of administrative staff reductions proposed and the potential
impact on the Department’s ability to effectively and efficiently manage the
wide range of services critical to fulfilling the mission of the Department;
and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that as a result of the contingency budget reduction, the
Department will lose valued employees who have for many years contributed to the
Department’s mission to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans,
and the Health Commission thanks them for their dedication and service; and, be
it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission encourages the Mayor and the Board
of Supervisors to work together with all City Departments to examine all options
to balance the budget and minimize cuts to critical public health services; and,
be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission supports a continued contribution
by employees towards funding pension contributions at the current 7.5 percent
rate, in order that crucial safety net services can continue to be provided.
I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of May
11, 2004 adopted the foregoing resolution.
Michele M. Olson, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission