March 17, 2021

Surplus funds for the current year are allocated to one-time relief and recovery programs to support small businesses, arts and culture, youth and families, as well as vulnerable residents

San Francisco, California – Today London Mayor N. Breed and Chairman of the Budget Oversight Board Matt Haney announced an agreement on a spending plan for a one-time current-year surplus in the $ 125 million budget of dollars. The spending plan focuses on immediate relief and recovery support for those most affected by the pandemic, including protecting small businesses, preserving arts and cultural organizations, supporting youth and families, better security housing and overdose prevention.

That $ 125 million was a one-time surplus for the current fiscal year resulting from revenues, including property taxes, higher than what was forecast when the City’s budget was approved in October 2020.

“A year ago today we went to a Shelter in Place which, while saving lives, has had an impact on our city like I have never seen before,” said the Mayor of London Breed . “Small businesses have closed, our students have been out of classrooms for over a year, and people are worried about how they’re going to pay their rent. People continue to struggle with housing security and drug addiction, as well as our arts and culture. area, which is part of what makes San Francisco so unique, is suffering. As we work on our long-term recovery, we know we need this immediate support that will help get our city back on its feet. I appreciate Supervisor Haney’s work with us on this, and know that many board members are deeply invested in many of these priorities, and our goal now is to get this funding approved and distributed to those who need it as quickly as possible. “

“This spending plan will direct resources and support to those most affected during this crisis, including small businesses, families, tenants, artists and vulnerable residents,” said supervisor Matt Haney. “This program will keep small businesses open, fight the opioid epidemic, support our children and families, and ensure tenants can stay in their homes. It is crucial that surplus funds be put directly into the pockets of our suffering residents and small businesses and that our most pressing priorities for recovery be addressed. The residents of our city need all of us to work together and deliver real solutions. This is what we have done here. I am grateful to Mayor Breed for his leadership and partnership, and to all of my colleagues on the Supervisory Board. The next budget cycle will be one of the most important in our city’s history and we are committed to working together to help our city turn around and build back better. “
The legislation enabling this package will be voted on in today’s Committee on Budget and Appropriations, before being submitted to the entire supervisory board for a vote.

Small Business Loans and Grants Program – $ 24.8 million: This includes funding for loans and grants for small businesses, including $ 3 million to support entertainment venues; $ 2.3 million to fully fund the Shared Spaces Equity Grant Program, which helps fund improvements, barricades, ambassadors and staff for closed streets, as well as technical assistance in design and issuance of permits; and $ 1 million to provide grants to small businesses that have been victims of property crime.

Prevent cuts to arts and culture programs – $ 24.1 million: This funding will make up for the loss of hotel tax funding devoted to artistic and cultural programs. In addition, this includes $ 1 million in funding to serve as an emergency during the current year if hotel tax collection is even less successful, and an additional $ 5 million to serve as a down payment for the shortfall. funding planned for the following fiscal year.

Corporate and License Fee Deferral – $ 13.2 million: This will support the deferral of business registration fees and license payments that were due from May 2021 to November 2021 for businesses with gross revenues of less than $ 25 million. This will allow nearly 80,000 reporting companies in total to defer their payments.

Waive Commercial and License Fees – $ 15 Million: Funding will go towards implementing legislation passed by supervisor Catherine Stefani to waive business registration fees for businesses most affected by the stay-at-home order.

Support for Youth Learning – $ 15 million: The funding will fill any gaps in the upcoming Summer Together program, as well as other emerging learning needs of young people resulting from school closures.

Youth Internship Program – $ 2.7M: This funding will expand summer internships for high school students in the San Francisco Unified School District to provide employment opportunities in education, in partnership with Opportunities for All.

Rent relief – $ 10.05M: About $ 10 million will complement funding for state and city rent relief to prevent residential evictions of tenants affected by the pandemic and the stay-at-home order.

Affordable Housing Innovations – $ 10.05M: Approximately $ 10 million will be made available to the Mayor’s Office for Housing and Community Development for the acquisition, rehabilitation, development and operation of affordable housing projects, including cooperative housing, funded housing by the state and innovative housing models not traditionally funded by the state available. and federal funds.

Overdose Prevention – $ 1.6M: Funding will extend to the Department of Public Health’s pilot program for overdose prevention efforts, including $ 1 million over two years to expand the overdose prevention program in single-room hotels and $ 600,000 to support the reduction of overdoses in the street.

Family Assistance Fund – $ 2 million: This will support the continuation of the Family Relief Fund that was created last spring at the onset of COVID-19 to help vulnerable and undocumented families who were not eligible for other forms of state and federal financial support. The program was introduced by Supervisor Walton in the summer of 2020.

This press release was produced by the mayor’s office of San Francisco. The opinions expressed here are those of the author.