Still Some Questions About SF Finances
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) _ It was a late, late night for San Francisco city officials as they passed a $6.5 billion budget package.
In a 10-1 vote late Tuesday night, the supervisors approved the new budget, which will restore a number of social service and health programs that had been cut.
Mayor Gavin Newsom's staff had spent the day in heated last minute negotiations and he was positively beaming about the outcome.
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"We were able to balance a budget in this economy without raising taxes, without any significant cuts," said Newsom. "No police officers, no firefighters laid off. And I don't know another big city in the United States that can lay claim to that."
Board of Supervisors President David Chiu had a more sobering assessment, as he remains concerned about cuts in recreation, violence prevention, children's programs and mental health services.
"We have eliminated thousands of positions. We've asked our labor unions to give back and we've cut back in every area of city government," said Chiu.
While there was agreement to restore about $40 million in programs, the city could find itself in deficit mode again in a few months because of state and budget cuts.
