San Francisco needs better oversight, a new report says

Governance Challenges in San FranciscoGovernance Challenges in San Francisco San Francisco faces numerous governance challenges, as highlighted in a recent report by the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury. The report identifies poor coordination among departments, inadequate budget oversight, and an excessive number of ballot measures as major concerns. Coordination and Collaboration The report found that departments within the city government lack effective coordination, which hinders the delivery of essential services. This disjointed approach leads to inefficiencies, delays, and a lack of accountability. The jury recommends establishing clear lines of communication and collaboration between departments to improve coordination. Budget Oversight San Francisco has struggled with budget deficits for several years. The report emphasizes the need for stricter cost controls in labor, healthcare, and pension expenses. Additionally, the city must explore options for reducing certain services and increasing revenue to balance the budget. Ballot Measures The city has seen a significant increase in the number of voter-mandated spending measures on the ballot. The report suggests that a thorough review of these measures is necessary to assess their impact on the city budget. It also recommends reducing the frequency of ballot measures to allow for more deliberate decision-making. Other Challenges The report highlights other governance challenges, including: * Unclear definition of the city manager’s role * Inconsistent and outdated organizational charts * Insufficient cooperation between departments due to “silos” Recommendations The jury makes 13 recommendations to address these governance issues. These include: * Creating a task force to improve budget oversight * Clarifying the city manager’s role * Reducing the number and frequency of ballot measures * Updating organizational charts to improve understanding of government structure * Prioritizing coordination and collaboration between departments Importance The report underscores the importance of effective governance in San Francisco. Poor governance can lead to inefficient service delivery, financial instability, and a lack of accountability. By addressing the challenges identified in the report, the city can improve its governance and better serve its residents.

San Francisco faces significant governance challenges, including poor coordination among departments that hinder the effective delivery of critical services, inadequate budget oversight and too many ballot measures, according to a report released Tuesday.

The 46-page report from the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury includes 13 recommendations on how the mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Office of the City Administrator, the Office of the Controller and the Department of Technology can better work together.

The city’s 19-member panel interviewed 50 current and former city officials or employees for the report.

The jury found that the city — which has faced budget deficits for years — must control its labor, health care and pension costs, while also cutting back on certain services and finding more revenue to balance the budget. Over a 14-year period during this fiscal year, the budget grew 121%, the report said.

Another topic discussed was voter mandated spending and how it affects the city budget. The report acknowledged the need to review it, but could not address what are called “set-asides” in the city budget.

The jury suggested that the Mayor’s Office create a task force – which would include budget directors and supervisors – to improve budget oversight by the end of the year.

City Hall employees told the jury that the budget process was “cumbersome and bureaucratic,” according to the investigation.

Additionally, the report found the city manager’s role was unclear and recommended clarifying it by June 2025, including the reporting line between the mayor, the Board of Supervisors and other city entities.

The report noted that voters faced a very large number of ballot measures: “over a nine-year period, San Francisco voters considered 115 ballot initiatives, more than twice as many as San Diego, the nearest equivalent city.” It was also said that at that time 70% of the measures came from the Board of Supervisors.

Additionally, city residents may have difficulty understanding the structure of government due to the report’s inconsistent and outdated organizational charts

Furthermore, the organization of city departments created limited knowledge between departments, or a ‘silo’ problem. As a result, cooperation between departments has been insufficient, the report said.

“We strongly encourage prospective jurors and citizens to prioritize this area of ​​inquiry,” the report said.

Reach Elizabeth Wilson: [email protected]