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Meeting Information



Finance_Committee

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CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

 

 

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

 

 

Meeting Minutes

Thursday, December 3, 2009

3:30 p.m.

Juvenile Probation Department, Main Conference Room 247

375 Woodside Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94127

 

Finance Committee

Katharine Albright, Chair

Sarah Ching Ting Wan

Rebecca Woodson

 

Meeting Minutes

 

1.      Roll call

  • The Commission Chair called the meeting to order at 3:42 p.m.  Commissioners Albright and Wan were present.   

2.   Public Comment

  • No public comments.

 

3.   Review and Approval of the Finance Committee Minutes of September 30, 2009
(ACTION ITEM)

  • Motion to approve the Finance Committee Minutes of September 30, 2009 by Commissioner Wan, second by Commissioner Albright.  Minutes were approved.
  • No public comments.

 

4.   FY 2009-2010 Budget Update and Mid-Year Reductions presented by Sue Wong
(DISCUSSION ONLY)

  • Sue Wong, Finance Director, said that on November 17th the Mayor’s Office issued the mid-year budget reductions instructions to all departments.  This was based on the Controller’s report, the 1st Quarter Budget Projection and Revenue Expenses, and it indicated a $30 million citywide shortfall.  In addition, there were supplemental expense appropriations going before the Board of Supervisors (BOS) to cover budget overruns at the Fire Department, Superior Court, and other departments that totaled an additional $23 million.  The total budget deficit was closer to $50 million.  The state budget deficit is projected at $21 billion.  Departments were asked to submit mid-year cut proposals by December 4th. 
  • JPD’s mid-year budget cut target is $990,000, approximately $1 million, which is 4% of ongoing cuts.  This is new information from the last Finance Committee meeting.  Next year, it will total $2 million.  In FY 08/09, JPD cut $3.8 million.  In FY 09/10, JPD cut $600,000.  The total of both years is $4.5 million.  JPD has another million to cut. 
    COMM Albright asked what the overall budget was and Ms. Wong said $35 million. 
    COMM Wan asked if this cut would be to general fund and Ms. Wong said that most of the budget is for general fund and that of the $35 million budget, $33 million is for general fund.  JPD summarized the proposal and most of the cost comes from salaries/positions. 
  • This is the beginning of the negotiating phase with the Mayor’s Budget office and specific positions were not outlined.  Ms. Wong said that a $1 million cut, on top of $4.5 million, is very difficult.  On the Administrative side, 3.5 positions will be laid off.  These will be filled positions.  Of the 3.5 positions, one position is vacant.  The fleet services will be reduced by 20%.  On the Probation Division, 10 positions will be laid off.  Chief Siffermann indicated that it will increase case and work loads and will require dramatic adjustment that will impact services.  One of the Professional Services contracts will be reduced.  At LCR, the administrative position will not be a layoff.  This position will be shifted so that it will be grant funded.  JPD will be short around $290,000 for the mid-year cut.
  • No public comments.

5.   FY 2010-2011 Budget Planning and Target Reductions presented by Sue Wong
(DISCUSSION ONLY)

  • Ms. Wong said the target reduction is 30%, which is $7.7 million, and the Mayor has indicated that core services will be cut from departments.  It will be a 20% cut and a 10% contingency: $5.1 million is 20%; and 10% is $2.6 million. This does not incorporate any state budget cuts that might result with the $21 billion shortfall.  
  • COMM Albright asked if there was any discussion with the community so that they are aware of the situation and Allison Magee, Director of Administrative Services, said that they would reach out to them at the Full Commission meeting.  Ms. Wong said that this would also go before the BOS. 
    COMM Wan asked if there was another venue, other than the Full Commission meeting, to bring this issue to the attention of the community.  Ms. Magee stated the budget process is just beginning and that they will have workshops with the community.  For the mid-year cuts, JPD did not have time to notify the community.  JPD’s budget is due by February 21, 2010. 
    COMM Albright suggested that the department ensure that the community is aware of what is going on, has an understanding of the department’s priorities, and what is legally mandated.  If the Mayor is cutting core services, at some point, the City will be out of compliance.  A definition of core services is what is legally mandated.  Ms. Magee said that JPD will meet with the Mayor’s office regarding their submission on Friday and have the entire budget conversation.  In the next couple of weeks, once they know what the Mayor’s office will take on the mid-year cuts, JPD will have a better understanding.  
  • COMM Wan asked if there was a legal welfare code regarding a ratio for probation officers.  Ms. Magee said the ratio is 1:15 during waking hours and 1:30 during sleeping hours.  Chief Siffermann expressed that it was custom, care and control and not program.  Ms. Magee stated that the new hall requires additional staff to fill the needs of the institution.  It assumes no movement and the requirement is much higher than 1:15 during waking hours and 1:30 during sleeping hours. 
  • COMM Albright stated that the guiding principles for LCR needs to express the legally mandated programming that ensures long-term savings; leverages private dollars; creates efficiencies in the system; and creates community protection and prevention.  As an example, JPD should describe more what LCR does and why they need that kind of programming.  Describe the “why” aspect so that the values and principles are what JPD is trying to protect, not the program.  If JPD can prove, for example, that “x” program is going to save the government a certain percentage and there is research on that, then that is what is compelling regarding long-term public safety. 
  • COMM Wan asked to see the cost analysis and inquired about the actual cost per kid.  Ms. Magee said that JPD is working on the analysis and they have the daily costs.
  • COMM Albright advised JPD to probe deeper on the evidence based effective programming.   If this is the most effective way in providing services because it is more culturally competent, what is the value that JPD is trying to underscore in protecting these contracts, and describe the guiding principles and the tactics that it would take. 
  • COMM Wan asked about identifying revenue.  Ms. Magee said that JPD is independently looking at other revenue sources in terms of maximizing Title 4E and other federal sources. 
  • COMM Wan had questions regarding the budget projections of FY 09/10 and was concerned that JPD will not balance at the end of the year.  Ms. Magee stated that this has happened before and that the department will balance at the end of the year.   
  • COMM Albright would like a similar presentation to be on the agenda at the next Full Commission Meeting.  In addition, a Finance Committee meeting will be held in January, 2010. 
  • No public comments.

6.  Adjournment (ACTION ITEM) 

  • The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.