Proposed San Francisco City Charter Amendment Clears Committee
A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee on Thursday approved a proposal for an amendment to the city charter that would establish an emergency health care services fund, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The proposal, which would require a $231 million minimum spending level in the city budget for the Department of Public Health in its first year, will now go before the full board.
A proposed ballot measure to fund emergency medical services is affiliated with the amendment (Goodyear, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/8). The amendment, proposed by Supervisor Chris Daly last month, would raise the city sales tax from 8.5% to 8.75% to finance the emergency fund. The money would fund San Francisco General Hospital and other emergency health services, which have experienced budget cuts in recent years.
Eight supervisors must vote in favor of the initiative by Aug. 10 to qualify it for the November San Francisco ballot. If the measure qualifies for the ballot, it would require two-thirds approval to take effect (California Healthline, 6/9).