Brown Orders 10% Cut in All San Francisco Department Budgets, Public Health Could Cut Services

To stem potential budget deficits of about $60 million this year and $175 million next year, San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (D) has directed all city department heads to cut 10% from next year's budgets, a move that could force public health officials to cut some services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Facing "unavoidable cost increases," such as rising rent and pharmaceutical costs, and a $26 million increase in personnel costs, Public Health Director Mitchell Katz said, "There is no way to do that (10%) without significant service cuts." Katz is trying to determine which new services to delay next year, but he said that the city's new health insurance program for low-income children would not be on the list. Brown ordered the cuts while asking department directors to "find ways" to fund promised salary increases for employees. Brown is expected to meet today with department directors to discuss the cuts (Lelchuk, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/13).