Government of San Francisco
Encyclopedia
Consolidated city-county
In United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
in California, the government of the City and County of San Francisco is defined by the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco, which is similar to the other counties of California and defines several officers and entities.
The 11-member Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
is the legislative body acting as both a board of supervisors and a city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, with "[a]ll rights and powers of a City and County which are not vested in another officer or entity" by the charter. The executive body is composed of the Mayor of San Francisco
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
as the mayor and the county executive, along with the "departments, appointive boards, commissions and other units of government."
In addition, there are other elected officers of San Francisco: the Assessor-Recorder, City Attorney, District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff and Treasurer. The City Administrator is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, and is the Director of the General Services Agency (GSA), which is generally responsible for the administration of the government of San Francisco.
San Francisco voters use ranked-choice voting
Preferential voting
Preferential voting is a type of ballot structure used in several electoral systems in which voters rank candidates in order of relative preference. For example, the voter may select their first choice as '1', their second preference a '2', and so on...
to elect the Mayor, Supervisors, and other elective officers. The Board of Supervisors is headed by a President and is responsible for passing laws and budgets, though San Franciscans also make use of direct ballot initiatives
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
to pass legislation. The members of the Board of Supervisors are elected as representatives of specific districts within the city. If the mayor dies or resigns, the President of the Board of Supervisors assumes the office, as Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein is the senior U.S. Senator from California. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Senate since 1992. She also served as 38th Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988....
did after the assassination of George Moscone
George Moscone
George Richard Moscone was an American attorney and Democratic politician. He was the 37th mayor of San Francisco, California, US from January 1976 until his assassination in November 1978. Moscone served in the California State Senate from 1967 until becoming Mayor. In the Senate, he served as...
in 1978.
Executive
The executive body is composed of the Mayor of San FranciscoMayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
as the mayor and the county executive, along with the "departments, appointive boards, commissions and other units of government." The City Administrator is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, and is the Director of the General Services Agency (GSA), which is generally responsible for the administration of the government of San Francisco.
Mayor
- Mayor's Office of Economic & Workforce Development
- Mayor's Office of Commerce and Trade
- Mayor's Office of Community Development (MOCD)
- Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ)
- Mayor’s Office on Disability
- Mayor's Office of Education
- Entertainment Commission
- Film Commission
- Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH)
- Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS)
- Mayor's Office of Public Finance
- Small Business Commission
City Administrator and/or General Services Agency
- San Francisco Ethics Comission
- Office of the City Administrator
- Office of the County Clerk
- Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs
- Office of Contract Administration
- Department of Technology
- Treasure Island Development Authority
- Department of Public Works
- Mayor's Office on Disability
- Office of Labor Standards Enforcement
- Office of the Medical Examiner
- Real Estate Division
- Risk Management
- Purchasing
- Convention Facilities
- Central Shops
- 311 Customer Service Call Center
- Animal Care & Control
- Grants for the Arts
Other
- Department of Building Inspection
- Department of Children, Youth & Their Families
- Department of Emergency Management
- Department of Election
- Department of Environment
- Department of Human Resources
- Department of Public Health
- San Francisco Department of Public WorksSan Francisco Department of Public WorksThe San Francisco Department of Public Works is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure...
- Recreation and Park Department
- Municipal Transportation AgencyMunicipal Transportation AgencyThe San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is an agency created by consolidation of the San Francisco Municipal Railway , the Department of Parking and Traffic , and the Taxicab Commission....
- Department of Parking and Traffic
- San Francisco Municipal RailwaySan Francisco Municipal RailwayThe San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
- Office of Assessor-Recorder
- Office of City Attorney
- Office of the Controller
- Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector
- Rent Board
- San Francisco Arts CommissionSan Francisco Arts CommissionThe San Francisco Arts Commission is the official San Francisco County, USA arts council.The San Francisco Arts Commission It was established in 1932 and runs under the California state arts council, the California Arts Council . The commission is appointed by the major...
- San Francisco Fire DepartmentSan Francisco Fire DepartmentThe San Francisco Fire Department provides fire and emergency services to the City and County of San Francisco, California.The San Francisco Fire Department, along with the San Francisco Police Department and San Francisco Sheriff's Department, serves an estimated population of 1.4 million people...
- San Francisco Planning Department
- San Francisco Public Utilities CommissionSan Francisco Public Utilities CommissionThe San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is a public agency of the City and County of San Francisco that provides water, wastewater, and power services to the City and an additional 1.6 million customers within three San Francisco Bay Area counties.The SFPUC manages a complex water supply...
- San Francisco Police DepartmentSan Francisco Police DepartmentThe San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
- San Francisco Sheriff's DepartmentSan Francisco Sheriff's DepartmentThe San Francisco Sheriff's Department is the sheriff's department for the City and County of San Francisco. The department has 850 deputized personnel, and support staff....
- San Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School District , established in 1851, is the only public school district within the City and County of San Francisco, and the first in the state of California...
Board of Supervisors
The 11-member Board of SupervisorsSan Francisco Board of Supervisors
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is the legislative body within the government of the City and County of San Francisco, California, United States.-Government and politics:...
is the is the legislative body acting as both a board of supervisors and a city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, with "[a]ll rights and powers of a City and County which are not vested in another officer or entity" by the charter.
- Eric MarEric MarEric Lee Mar is a California politician, previously serving on the San Francisco Board of Education and San Francisco County Democratic Central Committee. In 2008, he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 1.- Biography :...
, District 1 (Richmond) - Mark FarrellMark Farrell (politician)Mark Farrell is an American politician currently serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 2, consisting of the Marina, Pacific Heights, the Presidio, part of Russian Hill, and Sea Cliff....
, District 2 (Marina/Pacific Heights/Presidio) - David ChiuDavid Chiu (politician)David Chiu is the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He represents District 3, encompassing the northeastern corner of the city, including Chinatown, North Beach, the Financial District, and Fisherman's Wharf.- Early Life :...
, District 3 (Chinatown/North Beach/Nob Hill) (current president) - Carmen ChuCarmen ChuCarmen Chu is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 4. In 2000, she earned a bachelor's degree in public policy from Occidental College, and in 2003, earned a master's degree in public policy from UC Berkeley...
, District 4 (Sunset) - Ross MirkarimiRoss MirkarimiRoss Mirkarimi is a member of the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco, California, a marijuana legalization advocate, and co-founder of the Green Party of California. He was elected in 2004 to represent District 5...
, District 5 (Haight/Western Addition/Inner Sunset) - Jane KimJane KimJane Kim is an American politician currently serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 6, consisting of Alcatraz Island, Civic Center, Mission Bay, South of Market, the Tenderloin, Treasure Island, and Yerba Buena Island.Prior to her election to the Board of...
, District 6 (Tenderloin/South of Market) - Sean ElsberndSean ElsberndSean Elsbernd is an American politician currently representing District 7 for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. District 7 includes neighborhoods west of Twin Peaks, the Villas at Parkmerced, Lake Merced, Harding Park Golf Course, San Francisco State University, City College of San...
, District 7 (Twin Peaks/Forest Hill/West Portal) - Scott WienerScott WienerScott Wiener is an American politician currently serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 8, consisting of The Castro, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Glen Park, and Noe Valley...
, District 8 (Castro/Noe Valley) - David CamposDavid CamposDavid Campos , is a Guatemalan-American attorney and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 9. The district consists of Bernal Heights, part of Portola and the Inner Mission and it elected him on November 4, 2008 in the 2008 San Francisco elections.-Early life and...
, District 9 (Mission/Bernal Heights) - Malia CohenMalia CohenMalia Cohen is an American politician currently serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 10, consisting of Bayview-Hunters Point, McLaren Park, part of the Portola, Potrero Hill, and Visitacion Valley....
, District 10 (Potrero Hill/Hunter's Point/Visitacion Valley) - John AvalosJohn AvalosJohn Avalos is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing District 11. The district consists of Crocker-Amazon, Excelsior, Ingleside, Oceanview, and the Outer Mission districts. He was elected on November 4, 2008 in the 2008 San Francisco elections and took office on January...
, District 11 (Excelsior/Ingleside)
Taxes
As of November 2010, San Francisco's sales tax rate was 9.5%, distributed as follows:- 8.25% - State
- 6.00% - State - General Fund
- 0.25% - State - Fiscal Recovery Fund
- 0.50% - State - Local Revenue Fund
- 0.50% - State - Local Public Safety Fund
- 1.00% - Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Tax LawBradley-Burns Uniform Local Tax LawThe Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Tax Law allows a a percentage to be added to a state-wide sales tax, with the proceeds applied to benefit counties and cities of that state. Generally the revenue obtained from the Uniform Local Tax funds various county and city needs such as transportation and...
- 0.25% - Local County - Transportation funds
- 0.75% - Local City/County - Operational funds
- 0.50% - AB 1077 (1977) Transportation formula - Bay Area Rapid TransitBay Area Rapid TransitBay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
, San Francisco Municipal RailwaySan Francisco Municipal RailwayThe San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
, AC TransitAC TransitAC Transit is an Oakland-based regional public transit agency serving the western half of Alameda County and parts of western Contra Costa County in the western, Bay-side area of the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area...
- 0.50% - Local/regional transportation
- Proposition B (1989) - 1989-2009: SF County Transportation Authority (60% transit including San Francisco Municipal RailwaySan Francisco Municipal RailwayThe San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
, 30% street and traffic safety, 8% paratransitParatransitParatransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
, 2% transportation system management. - Proposition K (2003) - 2009-2034: Different formula for local streets and local and regional public transit.
- Proposition B (1989) - 1989-2009: SF County Transportation Authority (60% transit including San Francisco Municipal Railway
- 0.25% - San Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School District , established in 1851, is the only public school district within the City and County of San Francisco, and the first in the state of California...
Budget
The fiscal year 2007-08 city and county budget is as follows:| Category | Revenue | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Charges for services | $1,808 M | 29.7% |
| Property taxes | $1,186 M | 19.5% |
| State | $707 M | 11.6% |
| Other local taxes | $588 M | 9.7% |
| Federal | $360 M | 5.9% |
| Business taxes | $350 M | 5.8% |
| Rents and concessions | $349 M | 5.7% |
| Fund balance from 2006–07 | $239 M | 3.9% |
| Fines and forfeitures | $105 M | 1.7% |
| Interest and investment income | $84 M | 1.4% |
| Licenses, permits, and franchises | $36 M | 0.6% |
| Reserves drawdown | $23 M | 0.4% |
| Other | $244 M | 4.0% |
| Total | $6,079 M | 100% |
| Category | Expenditures | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | $3.083 B | 50.4% |
| Non-personnel operating costs | $1.438 B | 23.7% |
| Debt service | $576 M | 9.5% |
| Capital and equipment | $335 M | 5.5% |
| Grants | $272 M | 4.5% |
| Aid assistance | $271 M | 4.5% |
| Reserves and fund balance | $69 M | 1.1% |
| Facility maintenance | $35 M | 0.6% |
| Total | $6,079 M | 100% |
| Category | Personnel | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Public Works, Transportation, and Commerce | 8,798 | 31.5% |
| Public Protection | 6,566 | 23.5% |
| Public Health | 6,196 | 22.2% |
| General Administration and Finance | 2,317 | 8.3% |
| Human Welfare and Neighborhood Development | 2,125 | 7.6% |
| Culture and Recreation | 1,883 | 6.8% |
| Total | 27,885 | 100% |
External links
- SFGov.org, official site of City and County of San Francisco