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The city budget and deficit.
2 upcoming events · 15 stories · 5 meeting summaries · Sep 2, 2026 – Nov 8, 2026
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SF got $7M to expand its innovation team. Lurie just fired most of it
San Francisco's innovation office has lost its director, the chief who oversaw it and most of its staff, all in less than a year. The city had received $7 million to expand the team, the Standard reports.
Tuesday, October 27, 20261 story →
SF’s mansion mania has been good news for the city’s budget
Sales of San Francisco homes priced at $10 million and above are feeding the city's property transfer tax revenue, the Standard reports. The outlet ties the run of high-end sales to wealth from the AI industry.
Wednesday, October 21, 20262 stories →
SF Supervisors Seek $1.7 Million for Immigrant Services Amid ICE Surge
San Francisco supervisors are expected to vote on an additional $1.7 million for immigration services after a surge in enforcement around the Bay Area. Supervisor Jackie Fielder announced the ordinance Tuesday, a day after ICE detained Milton Ramos Rodriguez in SoMa; photos obtained by KQED show injuries from the arrest. Fielder said at City Hall that federal agents were being sent to "terrorize and intimidate vulnerable communities ahead of an election."
City cuts deal to protect raises, prevent layoffs for largest S.F. labor unions
San Francisco reached a deal with its largest labor unions to implement a 12 percent raise over four years and to avoid layoffs through June 2029.
Saturday, October 17, 20261 story →
They free immigrants from ICE in hours. S.F. says wait a year.
The Bay Area Habeas Network, which files emergency petitions to free people arrested by immigration agents, often within hours, asked San Francisco in August for $250,000. The mayor's office says the request will be considered as part of next year's budget process, according to Mission Local.
Monday, September 21, 20261 story →
Muni service cuts could drag down San Francisco home prices
The San Francisco controller's office estimates that deep Muni service cuts could lower average home prices in the city by 0.6% to 0.9%, or as much as about $14,100, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. SFMTA faces a $307 million annual budget gap and is considering canceling 19 bus lines and one streetcar line, suspending cable car service and cutting frequency on its busiest routes if voters reject Proposition H in November. The same analysis estimates the tax would cost the owner of a single-family home or condominium $129 a year.
Thursday, September 17, 20261 story →
The office built to stop the next Nuru just got smaller
The Standard's Power Play column reports that budget cuts have shrunk the city office created to prevent another corruption case like Mohammed Nuru's. The column also covers the District 10 supervisor race, another campaign speech by Nancy Pelosi and a bathhouse revival.
Wednesday, September 16, 20261 story →
San Francisco supervisors dial back extension to mayor’s controversial OpenGov software
San Francisco supervisors cut a requested five-year, $33 million extension of the city's OpenGov permitting software to $22 million over three years. The software runs the city's PermitSF platform.
Monday, September 14, 20261 story →
San Francisco doesn’t need this many golf courses
San Francisco spends $4.9 million a year subsidizing six golf courses used by a shrinking number of players, The Standard reports. The piece argues that is hard to defend in a city short on housing.
Friday, September 11, 20261 story →
San Francisco mayor reaches tentative deal with city unions on 12% raises
Mayor Daniel Lurie reached a tentative agreement with large city unions that would give about 25,000 city workers 12 percent raises over four years and shield full-time union members from layoffs through June 2029. The deal still needs a vote by union members and would cover more than 80 percent of city employees, according to the mayor's office.
Thursday, September 10, 20261 story →
San Francisco mayor reaches tentative deal with unions: 25,000 city workers to get 12% raises over four years
Mayor Daniel Lurie's office has reached tentative contract agreements with several large city unions that would raise pay for about 25,000 San Francisco employees by 12% over four years. Full-time union workers would also be protected from layoffs through June 2029 under the deals, which would cover more than 80% of the city workforce once members vote to ratify them.
Wednesday, September 9, 20261 story →
Lurie strikes early deal with city unions to avoid layoffs through 2029
Mayor Daniel Lurie reached an early contract deal with city unions that will avoid layoffs through 2029. The arrangement gives employees a 12% wage increase through 2031, The Standard reports.
Sunday, September 6, 20261 story →
San Francisco's vacant storefront tax is all but defunct
World Journal reports that few landlords pay San Francisco's vacant storefront tax and that the revenue it brings in is a small share of the city budget. The article traces how the policy has quietly lost effect.
Friday, September 4, 20261 story →
Controversial PermitSF Contract Extension Advances Without Supervisors’ Support
The Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee advanced Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposal to extend the city's PermitSF contract with OpenGov for five years at $33 million, but did not recommend full board approval. Some supervisors questioned the portal's performance and the administration's decision to bypass competitive bidding.
Thursday, September 3, 20261 story →
Lurie vowed to add more shelters. A $7M cabin community has sat empty nearly a year
A city-funded community of 60 shelter cabins, built to help fulfill Mayor Daniel Lurie's pledge to add shelter, has sat empty for nearly a year, The San Francisco Standard reports. Neighborhood politics, tense lease talks and bureaucratic delays have kept the beds unused.