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San Francisco Supervisors Begin Tackling Budget

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- San Francisco Supervisors Monday began their two week annual nip and tuck at the City's new $6.8 billion dollar budget proposal. Compared to past years, it was a tame affair.

This budget hearing was short on rhetoric, pontificating and hand wringing. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi spoke somewhat nostalgically about the fireworks of the past.

"The discussion is extremely academic, very sort of nose-to- the-grindstone, but maybe a little bit too passive for my own liking," he said.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

Supervisor Carmen Chu is chairing the hearings, and she said there's still room for controversy when high profile departments like police, fire, health and parks and recreation take center stage.

"We will definitely get more questions as to why the budget has been proposed the way it has been," she said.

Some things that could be controversial include possible police shortages because of lack of academy classes funding or the impact of cuts at mental health and substance abuse programs.

The budget, at $6.8 billion, is the largest in San Francisco history.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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