Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - November 10, 2004
Suzanne Herel, sherel@sfchronicle.com.
"It's all very grim," said Dr. Mitch Katz, director of the Department of Public Health, in presenting to the commission a list of cuts that amount to $15.5 million over the next 18 months. "We've done our best, but we realize this is not a list to be proud of."
The mid-year cuts are part of a citywide cost-saving plan introduced last week by Mayor Gavin Newsom, who blamed a $25 million shortfall this fiscal year -- and $80 million annually thereafter -- on the failures of Propositions J and K, ballot measures that would have raised the sales tax and imposed new business taxes.
In all, Newsom hopes to trim $97 million from the city's budget over the next 18 months, and he's cutting everything from Fire Department funding to street-cleaning crews.
Close to 200 people filled the Health Commission meeting Tuesday, and speakers -- some of them near tears -- filled 90 minutes of public comment by beseeching the commissioners to save programs -- in particular services for people living with HIV and breast cancer.
Because Newsom has the authority to enact mid-year reductions unilaterally, the commission had little choice but to approve the cuts. But they included resolutions asking the mayor to restore about $60,000 in funding for the Shanti Lifelines breast cancer case management program and an anti- gambling initiative. In addition, the group asked Newsom to consider reinstating funding for HIV support services, which made up 25 percent of the health cuts.
Katz said the cuts were crafted to avoid affecting core services, but dozens of speakers testified that without the support services -- for example, driving patients to the doctor or translating for them -- core services would be affected. Some predicted that cuts in public health would cost the city money in other areas, such as emergency room fees.
Dr. Valerie Ng, representing San Francisco General Hospital, said that one of the cuts, $1.2 million from the city's contract with UCSF, would result in longer waiting times for patients and the elimination of services yet to be decided.
Under city law, the Board of Supervisors can attempt to restore funding for programs cut by the mayor mid-year. But in the end, it's the mayor's call.
"I've always said, if you've got a better idea, I'm all ears,'' said Newsom, who was not at the meeting. "That being said, I don't have to build that consensus, but I'm hoping for a spirit of cooperation.''
Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, who chairs the Budget Committee, said Newsom had not discussed the cuts with him.
"I plan to get involved," he said. "As chair of the Budget Committee, I have a responsibility to get involved."
Newsom drafted three pages of proposed cuts after talking with some members of the Board of Supervisors, department heads and his budget advisers.
In balancing the $5 billion budget for fiscal year 2004-05, Newsom and the supervisors already closed a projected $307 million deficit by service cuts, layoffs and getting employees to agree to salary givebacks to help fund their pensions.
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