South San Francisco is poised to have a balanced budget in coming years after operating with a deficit amid the pandemic, a report released this week by the city shows.

The city, like many others in the region, saw its revenue fall as economic activity slowed during the pandemic. But while the city expects to close out the current fiscal year ending next month with a $2.3 million general fund loss, the coming year is projected to produce a nearly balanced budget with the deficit down to $99,000.

“Barring an unforeseen event, South San Francisco’s books are balanced into the future without cutting services,” City Manager Mike Futrell said. “It’s been years in the making thanks to very sound financial decisions by the City Council and by staff … and this city is very well positioned today and in the future should there be a recession or a slowdown.”

Total general fund revenue for the coming year is slated to be $122.1 million — nearly double what it was a decade ago, and an increase from the current year projected to close out at $116.3 million. The figure for the year prior was $111.5 million, according to the report.

The city gains the largest share of its revenue from property taxes, with $41 million expected this year and $43.8 million next year accounting for 36% of the general fund’s intake. Sales tax next year is projected to account for $20.9 million, or 17.2%, licensing and permits $15.5 million, or 12.3% and the city’s hotel tax $11.2 million, or 9.2%.

The hotel tax, the most affected revenue stream by the pandemic, was hit the hardest in the 2020-21 fiscal year, dropping to $6.7 million from closer to $17 million where it sat pre-COVID-19.

To weather the deficit in the current year, the city will pull from its reserves, expected to remain at a healthy $51.2 million. The city was also awarded $12.2 million in federal pandemic relief funds, a portion of which went to city social programs like the guaranteed income pilot.

The city’s largest expenses from its general fund continue to be police and fire which consume 52% of expenditures. Park and recreation accounts for 16% with the rest divided among various other city departments.

The projected budget also accounts for various new city staff positions, including the hiring of three new human resources staff members for an additional annual cost of $500,000. It also accounts for the hiring of an equity and inclusion officer, something that’s been a council priority but was put on hold amid the pandemic.

Regarding the new hires, Councilmember Mark Addiego said the city was fortunate to be in a position to make those decisions, especially compared with some neighboring cities that have been more heavily affected by hotel tax loss.

“South San Francisco finds itself in an enviable position, and we can make that commitment to improving the HR experience both for the people that are employed there and for those that are dependent on their services,” he said.

Vice Mayor Flor Nicolas took a more cautionary tone, pointing to potential new COVID-19 variants.

“Hopefully knowing what we know now, we will be able to achieve all these assumptions that we have,” she said.

The council will meet June 8 to go over the budget proposal in more detail ahead of a June 22 deadline for adoption.

The post South San Francisco balances funds | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Money / financial planning

eclipse_images / Getty Images

If you’re planning any major maintenance or renovation projects in 2022, be prepared to dig a little deeper into your bank account. The cost of maintaining the average single-family home in the US rose 9.3% last year, according to a new survey by Thumbtack, and there is every reason to believe that those costs will continue to rise over the next year.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 Americans in the 40 largest US cities, the higher maintenance costs for households were caused by labor and material shortages, as well as increasing demand for household services. About 30% of respondents said they would spend more than $ 10,000 on home projects in the next 12 months.

According to the Thumbtacks Home Care Price Index, released December 9, the average annual cost of maintaining a single family home is $ 4,886 – an increase of about $ 450 per household compared to 2020. The average cost of maintenance for a Townhouses soared 8.6% to $ 1,922 this year, while the average home maintenance cost increased 10% to $ 682.

See: 7 Easy Home Renovations To Get Started This Winter
Find: Who pays for home renovations on your favorite HGTV and other shows – and what do they cost?

Inflation to blame for rising prices?

Although these increases slowed significantly in the fourth quarter, overall inflation projections point to continued rising costs for almost everything in 2022.

Economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics estimate annual inflation will stay above 2% for the next three years amid rising wages and strong demand for goods and services, according to a recent Fox Business report. By the end of 2022, consumer price index inflation is expected to rise by almost 3%.

If this surge creeps into home maintenance, you can expect the average cost of servicing a single family home to climb to over $ 5,000 in 2022. Of course, a lot depends on the types of renovation or maintenance that are sought. In 2021, costs will rise for all but a few maintenance categories, according to Thumbtack. Here are some of the year-over-year cost increases for the current quarter:

• Sprinkler and irrigation repairs: 28.8%.
• Equipment maintenance: 19.7%.
• Sewer cleaning: 19.5%.
• Roof maintenance: 13.4%.
• Tree pruning: 13.4%.
• House cleaning: 13.3%.

Only three categories saw costs fall this quarter: chimney and chimney cleaning by 5.3%; central air conditioning maintenance (minus 1.8%); and lawn care (minus 0.4%).

Find out: Bathroom renovations that bring the greatest added value
Explore: 7 Easy Home Improvements for $ 5,000 or Less

Which US regions will be hardest hit by rising home maintenance costs?

In terms of geographic regions, Thumbtack’s home care price index has seen double-digit maintenance increases in numerous Sunbelt cities this year. Those who see some of the tallest peaks are West Palm Beach, Florida (+ 18.4%); Charlotte, North Carolina (+ 18%); Orlando, Florida (+ 16.6%); Houston, Texas (+ 15.8%); Miami, Florida (+ 14.4%); San Antonio, Texas (+ 13.8%); and San Diego, California (+ 13.7%).

Steep gains were also reported in hot residential markets such as Portland, Oregon (+ 33.9%); Las Vegas, Nevada (+ 17.6%); Seattle, Washington (+ 16.3%); Salt Lake City, Utah (+ 12.8%); New York City, New York (+ 12.1%) and Denver, Colorado (+ 10.5%).

At the other end of the spectrum, some cities have seen either declines or minimal increases in maintenance costs this year. This includes Baltimore, which was the only city on the list to see a 1.9% decline. Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC all reported increases of 3% or less.

See: Seasonal House Maintenance You Must Do To Maintain Your Home’s Value
Find: 12 Money Saving Home Maintenance Chores That You Don’t Need To Avoid anymore

Sponsored:

Take control of your finances: you work hard for your money. It’s time to make your money work hard for you. Schedule a free call with a certified finance trainer to get started!

Regardless of where you live, experts recommend spending enough money on upkeep and renovations each year to keep your home in good condition.

“People in different cities will make different decisions, but what is clear is that while you can put off buying a new couch – if you have moved to a warmer climate, you can put the strain on servicing or repairing your air conditioning, sprinklers, and more Areas, “said David Steckel, home expert at Thumbtack, in a press release. “Proactive home care saves homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs and helps arrange replacement appointments.”

More from GOBankingRates

About the author

Vance Cariaga is a London based writer, editor and journalist who previously worked for Investor’s Business Daily, The Charlotte Business Journal and The Charlotte Observer. His work has also appeared in Charlotte Magazine, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, and Business North Carolina Magazine. He holds a BA in English from Appalachian State University and studied journalism from the University of South Carolina. His coverage has been recognized by the North Carolina Press Association, the Green Eyeshade Awards, and AlterNet. In addition to journalism, he has worked in banking, accounting and restaurant management. Vance’s short story “Saint Christopher” is from North Carolina and also writes fiction. She took second place in the 2019 Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition. Two of his short stories appear in With One Eye on the Cows, an anthology published in 2019 by Ad Hoc Fiction. His debut novel, Voodoo Hideaway, was published by Atmosphere Press in 2021.

The post How A lot Cash Ought to You Price range for Dwelling Upkeep in 2022, Primarily based on Inflation? appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media

To improve housing access, affordability and equity, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the creation of a Housing Strike Force earlier this month.

The team, based at the California Department of Justice (Cal DOJ), has been tasked with enforcing California housing laws that cities across the state have circumvented or ignored.

The strike forces will hold a series of round tables across the state to educate and engage tenants and homeowners as the state puts pressure on communities for non-compliance with housing regulations and state-set housing production targets.

“California is facing a housing and affordability crisis of epic proportions,” said Bonta. “Millions of Californians worry about having a roof over their heads every day, and there are too many in this state who are lacking housing.

“This is a top priority and a struggle we will not back down from. As attorney general, I am committed to using all the tools my office has to promote the fundamental right to housing for Californians. “

The Housing Strike Force will take “an innovative and intersectional approach” to addressing the housing crisis, focusing on tenant protection, housing availability and environmental sustainability, housing affordability, and equitable and equitable housing for tenants and owners.

Bonta also launched a housing portal on the Cal DOJ website with resources and information for California homeowners and renters.

The forces will use the expertise of lawyers from the Cal DOJ’s Land Use and Conservation Division, the Consumer Protection Division, the Civil Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Environment Justice in their enforcement efforts.

“California has a golden opportunity to navigate its housing crisis with its historic $ 22 billion investment in housing and homelessness in this year’s budget. But it will only work if local governments do their part to build and approve new homes, ”said Governor Gavin Newsom. “The Attorney General’s emphasis on holding cities and counties accountable for fair housing, equity and housing is an important part of the state’s efforts to address the affordability crisis and provide greater opportunities for all Californians to have an affordable place in which to live they can call home. “

According to the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the proportion of blacks nationally has fallen below levels seen in the decades when housing discrimination was legal.

The 2020 census reports that there was a 29.6% difference in home ownership rates between African Americans and whites. Homeowners made up 44.6% of the black population compared to 74.2% of whites.

“Blacks have made little, if any, progress in closing the home ownership gap. Systemic discriminatory regulations and guidelines continue to frustrate reasonable efforts to increase black home ownership, ”said Lydia Pope, President of NAREB.

In California, the DOJ reports that housing demand has overtaken housing production over the past four decades. It has created a crisis that ranges from homelessness to unaffordable homes.

Despite considerable efforts, the DOJ found that California continues to be home to a disproportionate proportion of the people who are homeless in the United States, with an estimated 150,000 Californians sleeping in shelters, in their cars, or on the streets.

Bonta said California’s 17 million renters spend a significant portion of their salaries on rent, with an estimated 700,000 Californians at risk of eviction. High home ownership costs – the average price of a single family home in California is more than $ 800,000 – have resulted in the lowest home ownership rates since the 1940s.

Due to decades of systemic racism, these challenges have continuously and disproportionately affected color communities. For example, Bonta said that nearly half of California’s black households spend more than 30% of their income on housing, compared with just a third of white families.

In addition, less than one in five black California households could afford the statewide average home for $ 659,380 in 2020, compared to two in five white California households who could afford the same average home house the California Association Realtors (CAR) said in a February 2021 statement.

The percentage of black homebuyers who could afford to buy an existing single-family home at a median price in California in 2020 was 19%, compared with 38% for white households, according to CAR.

“Just as the average home price in California hits a new record of more than $ 800,000, we’re in a real estate crisis everywhere,” Bonta said during the virtual press conference on November 3rd.

“One in four tenants of all households pays more than half of their income for rent.”

The Housing Strike Force will address the scarcity and affordability crisis by enforcing state housing and development laws independently of the Attorney General and on behalf of the DOJ’s client agencies.

Earlier this year, Newsom signed the Assembly Bill (AB) 215, which strengthens the attorney general’s role in enforcing state housing laws.

AB 215 was developed for reforms that will facilitate housing construction and combat the current housing crisis.

Newsom also signed Senate Acts (SB) 9 and SB 10 in September, laws designed to help increase the supply of affordable housing and accelerate the production of apartment buildings across the country.

Written by Senate President Pro Tem Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), SB 9 enables a homeowner to subdivide an existing single family home lot to create a duplex, triplex, or fourplex.

In response to SB 9, homeowner groups have formed across the state to fight back. The groups name challenges they expect the law to bring to their communities, from garbage collection to increased fire risk.

Livable California, a San Francisco-based nonprofit focused on housing construction, is one of the groups opposed to the new laws.

“Senate Bill 9 ends single-family home zoning to allow four houses where one is now. It was signed by Governor Newsom, supported by 73 out of 120 lawmakers, and widely recognized by the media. However, one respected pollster found that 71% of California voters are against SB 9, ”the Livable California website reads.

“It opens 1.12 million homes in severe fire areas for unmanaged density – one sixth of all single-family homes in California,” the statement said. “SB 9 could undesirably remodel hundreds of high-risk fire areas spanning urban and rural California areas.”

But Newsom says the laws are urgent and overdue.

“The housing affordability crisis is undermining the California dream for families across the state and threatening our long-term growth and prosperity,” Newsom said in a September 16 statement.

SB 10 is designed for jurisdictions that want to activate and zoning urbanized areas near transit zones, allowing up to 10 units per parcel without the supervision of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

“Passing strong housing laws is only the first step. In order to combat our serious housing shortage, these laws must be enforced consistently and vigorously, ”said Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Senator of the Senate Housing Committee, Senator Scott Wiener. “I applaud Attorney General Bonta’s commitment to rigorous enforcement of California housing laws.”

The Housing Strike Force encourages Californians to send complaints or advice about housing to Housing@doj.ca.gov. For information on legal aid in your area, see https://lawhelpca.org.

The post California Shifting into Subsequent Price range 12 months With a $31 Billion Surplus, Analysts Say | appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SACRAMENTO – With deadline looming, budget lawmakers said late Friday they had reached a budget framework with Governor Gavin Newsom negotiating deals on homelessness financing, health insurance for undocumented seniors and other ongoing political differences.

But officials, who refused to go on record, said some key details remained unresolved even as lawmakers prepare to revise the $ 262.2 billion spending plan on Monday, three days before the new fiscal year begins , to adopt.

Legislators already approved a wildcard budget last week to meet a constitutional requirement and get paid, and negotiations on sharing a surge in tax revenue continued. An unexpectedly strong economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has left California with an estimated discretionary surplus of $ 38 billion along with $ 26 billion in federal stimulus money, leading to a number of competing proposals on liberal priorities such as access to health care, early childhood education and college scholarships.

The deal has been delayed in recent days as officials haggled over payments to government-subsidized childcare providers. Legislative leaders gathered outside the Capitol on Thursday, with hundreds of vendors urging the governor to raise their rates.

Legislative budget officials said discussions on how much to raise fees for childcare providers are ongoing. Follow-up calculations are also needed to complete several other spending packages, including $ 6 billion to expand broadband Internet access, $ 3.7 billion for climate resilience projects, $ 3 billion to cope with the rapidly worsening drought, and $ 1 billion US dollars for forest fire preparation, according to a summary document submitted by officials.

Newsom governor’s office and Treasury Department spokesmen did not respond immediately.

In a historic move, the budget would extend eligibility for Medi-Cal, the government’s health program for the poor, to undocumented immigrants aged 50 or older. Undocumented immigrants from low-income families are already eligible for insurance up to the age of 26. Newsom had proposed that the undocumented immigrant program from age 60 should be discontinued.

The agreement includes $ 1 billion annually for each of the next two years to help local governments pay for homelessness services and $ 2.75 billion to extend Homekey, a pandemic program Converting hotels, motels and other vacant buildings into supportive housing for homeless Californians. Newsom had aimed for a wider expansion of Homekey, which he has identified as one of its outstanding accomplishments in rapidly creating thousands of new homes.

It doesn’t include an increase in funding for public health officials, which lawmakers had been pushing for in the wake of the pandemic, despite legislative budget officials saying they would come back to the issue in the years to come.

The spending plan would bolster California’s financial footing a year after the pandemic-induced recession forced the state to close a projected deficit of $ 54 billion. Reserve accounts that officials dipped into last year would grow to more than $ 25 billion, and the state would repay $ 11 billion in deferred K-12 school funding.

California would also spend $ 8.1 billion on a second stimulus package to help ease the financial pain of the pandemic. The state already allocated $ 3.8 billion earlier this year to pay $ 600 to millions of low-income households and residents who participate in government welfare and social security programs.

As part of the budget, additional checks of $ 600 would go to middle-income households, up to $ 75,000 a year, who did not receive the first round of support. Families with children and undocumented immigrants would receive an additional $ 500, so some taxpayers could receive multiple payments from the state.

Other pandemic relief programs in the budget include an additional $ 2.6 billion to help the state meet all rent that lower-income tenants missed out on during the pandemic; $ 2 billion to clear overdue utility bills; and $ 1.5 billion in small business grants.

The budget summary also outlines agreements to gradually roll out universal pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds over the next four years and roll out extensive post-school and summer school programs in low-income districts, spending $ 3 billion to create more community schools with social services on Expand Campus, a college scholarship program for middle-class families, by $ 515 million and spend $ 211 million to tackle increasing gun violence, among other things.

Alexei Koseff is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff

The post Well being take care of undocumented seniors, $600 stimulus checks coming in subsequent California price range appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

South San Francisco officials stand ready to pass a budget limited by the economic damage associated with the pandemic but backed by a hefty reserve fund.

The South San Francisco City Council held a meeting on Tuesday, June 15,

With travel restrictions affecting the local tourism and hotel industries, officials expect a loss in annual income that will result in a slight deficit of about $ 2.5 million.

The gap between the proposed $ 112 million in spending and nearly $ 109.5 million in revenue can be made with a portion of the city’s $ 6.1 million in government pandemic aid or $ 56.8 million to be closed to the city’s reserves.

In terms of revenue, officials expect growth across the board in most major sources such as sales tax, which is expected to raise $ 19.4 million in the coming fiscal year, about $ 1 million more than last year.

Similarly, officials estimate the hotel tax will raise $ 7 million in the coming year, up $ 1.1 million from last year when travel bans nearly destroyed the local tourism industry. While growth is forecast, the total expected for the coming year is roughly half of what was received in the 2019-2020 budget year before the public health crisis.

“It shows the amazing impact COVID is having on our hotel and tourism industries,” said Finance Director Janet Salisbury.

South San Francisco expects property taxes to be around $ 41 million in the coming fiscal year, a slight decrease from $ 43 million last year.

Salisbury attributed the loss to the state’s contribution to vehicle registration fees, but noted that continued investment in the city’s biotech sector east of Highway 101 was a major source of income in South San Francisco.

In terms of savings, $ 24 million is held in general fund reserves, $ 20 million is held for capital projects, $ 5.5 million is held for pension obligations, and $ 6.7 million is unallocated.

The financial flexibility caused some council members to look for opportunities for additional investment.

To that end, Vice Mayor Mark Nagales questioned the city’s schedule for hiring an equity officer, which is a proposal from the Racial and Social Justice Subcommittee.

City manager Mike Futrell said two candidates are being hired for the year as consultants and could be permanent next year. However, he said officials were reluctant to hire new full-time workers until the local economy fully recovered from the pandemic.

Nagales, for his part, said he was satisfied with the proposal as long as there was an obligation to recruit the Equity Officer.

“I think it is important to continue the work that the Commission has started,” he said.

Nagales also asked if officials could find extra space in the budget to provide a grant to the Chamber of Commerce.

Nagales noted that chamber staff hours were reduced due to financial difficulties following the pandemic and reached a consensus with his colleagues to help the organization support local businesses.

Officials agreed, suggesting that a grant of roughly $ 10,000-15,000, similar to the amount given to local small businesses during the pandemic, would be appropriate.

“I think if they are asking for help and have been part of our arm to help small businesses in our community, I think it is our responsibility to help them as best we can,” he said.

The post South San Francisco appears to be like to spend after finances dinged by COVID | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SACRAMENTO (AP) – California will soon pay healthcare bills for low-income people aged 50 and over living in the country illegally, part of an expansion by Medicaid aimed at bringing the nation’s most populous state to the goal of Democrats Safe Everyone health insurance.

The new coverage will eventually cost taxpayers about $ 1.3 billion a year, money that is part of the new state budget that Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislatures unveiled on Friday evening. The budget is due to be voted on Monday in the state legislature, with Newsom likely to sign it before the state’s fiscal year begins on Thursday.

CONTINUE READING: Lake County fire seizes evacuations in the Kelseyvillesey neighborhood

Dr. Carlos Ruvalcaba, left, examines the patient Paula Medrano, an undocumented immigrant, in the Clinica Sierra Vista Elm in Fresno in a file photo from March 2010. (AP photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez)

California has spent a lot of money making sure everyone has health insurance. The state spends millions each year helping people pay their monthly insurance premiums, and the only state offers subsidies for families of four who earn up to $ 157,200 a year. California also taxes people who refuse to get health insurance.

However, according to UC Berkeley Labor Center, about 3.2 million people in the state are projected to be out of health insurance next year. Almost half of these people live in the country illegally, which means they are not eligible for full Medicaid benefits and other health insurance assistance programs.

Proponents have been pushing for years that all low-income immigrants should be eligible for Medicaid. But the Newsom government has resisted the cost – an estimated $ 2.4 billion a year according to a legal analysis – and instead opted for a phased approach.

Still, the inclusion of benefits for immigrants over 50 was a victory for some health care advocates whose efforts were hampered last year due to a budget deficit projected by the pandemic.

“I have dedicated my whole life to growing vegetables and fruits in the Coachella Valley. I am old and can no longer work in the fields. It’s time for California to think about the health of people like me who gave everything without getting anything, ”said Josefa Barragán, a member of TODEC, an immigrant advocacy group in California’s Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.

CONTINUE READING: Great white shark swimmers off the coast of San Mateo, nearby beaches closed

The budget proposal also makes more elderly people eligible for Medicaid by abolishing the “wealth test”. In general, people on low incomes are eligible for Medicaid. But for people 65 and over, having a low income is not enough. You are also not allowed to have assets of more than $ 2,000 per month for individuals and $ 3,000 per month for couples.

Assets exclude homes and second cars, but include things like cash in checking and savings accounts and some jewelry, excluding wedding or engagement rings and heirlooms. Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, called the wealth test “an antiquated policy that resulted in seniors and people with disabilities losing their health insurance when they have savings – even a modest amount for housing or an emergency.”

The elimination of the wealth test will add an additional 17,802 people to the state’s Medicaid program in 2020, according to an analysis by the Department of Health, which costs about $ 220 million a year.

The budget proposal is an agreement between Newsom and the state’s top two legislative leaders – Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Speaker of Parliament Anthony Rendon. All three are Democrats with large majorities in both chambers of the legislature.

The proposal equates to $ 262.6 billion in government spending, including the record reserves of $ 25.2 billion. However, it is not a final budget agreement between the three parties as some important details have not yet been finalized. Legislators are still negotiating with Newsom on details of a rate hike for childcare providers and how to spend $ 4 billion fighting forest fires and the drought.

MORE NEWS: Tesla is recalling 285,000 cars in China due to faulty cruise control

© Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

The post New State Funds Boosts Well being Take care of Older Immigrants – CBS San Francisco appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

After closing two massive budget gaps this year, San Francisco will face a new deficit of $ 653.2 million over the next two fiscal years as COVID-19 soars and a severe economic shutdown continues to plague the city’s finances .

To fill that void, Mayor London Breed plans to instruct departments on Wednesday to cut costs. This could include painful layoffs and service cuts that have largely been avoided so far.

The city’s budget bureau projects a $ 411.1 million hole for the next fiscal year, which begins in July, and a $ 242.1 million deficit the following year. City officials were hoping for a stronger economic recovery at this point in the pandemic, but sales, hotel and corporate taxes have been lower than expected, while costs associated with the pandemic and expected staff increases are driving up spending.

“We need to be clear about the options if we do not address this deficit, and unfortunately every option is on the table,” said Jeff Cretan, the mayor’s spokesman. “The mayor still has the priority not to fire anyone. But we know that this deficit will require a lot of work and sacrifice and difficult choices. “

Despite the looming cuts, Cretan said the mayor’s budget priorities remain the same: helping small businesses, providing basic services, and helping the homeless and the mentally ill.

The recent surge in viruses has led the state and city to return to more extensive business shutdowns. While its biggest budget hit can be attributed to falling tax revenues, the city’s economic troubles also stem from the multi-million dollar hikes promised to most city workers.

Over the summer, Breed urged the 35 San Francisco unions, representing 37,000 city workers, to postpone the increases to avoid layoffs and service cuts. In preparing the budget, the city was confident that negotiations with the unions would postpone an increase, but only police and firefighters agreed.

In August, the Board of Supervisors agreed to use $ 36.9 million in business tax reserves to fund 3% increases for the majority of unions that year. Now the city is ready for a further 3% increase from July 1st and a half percent increase on January 1st, 2022.

Increases could be delayed due to a treaty provision to postpone increases for six months if the budget deficit exceeds $ 200 million, which happened this year. However, this depends on an update of the budget in March.

At the time, the mayor sharply criticized the board’s decision to dive into the city’s reserves.

The supervisor Catherine Stefani – the only supervisor to vote against the Board’s budget proposal in the autumn – accused its colleagues of having adopted a spending plan based on reserves. She said the new budget projections were a “self-inflicted wound”.

“I am very disappointed that we got to this point,” she said in a statement. “Instead of protecting our existing services, my colleagues spent beyond our means. … We have to make painful decisions to get back on track. “

Meanwhile, COVID-19 costs are expected to pull $ 100 million out of the general fund this fiscal year. The largest costs include testing, food security programs, and running the command center in Moscone. While officials expect COVID-19 costs to fall over the next year, they won’t go away entirely. Since the funds of the federal CARES law will be used up at the end of 2020, the city plans to spend roughly the same amount in the next fiscal year.

Another unsolved issue that could have budget implications is the city’s homeless hotel program. The Ministry of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is finalizing a program that will accommodate more than 2,300 homeless people in hotels. While the city expects FEMA to reimburse the majority of the expenses – which range from $ 15 million to $ 18 million per month – City Controller Ben Rosenfield has warned that funding could run out in the short term.

The Board of Supervisors plans to vote Tuesday on laws that could lead the city to fund the program longer than currently planned.

The new deficit arises after hard-fought battles to close the deficits this year. The city closed a $ 1.5 billion hole for this fiscal year and next in October and expects to use funds from the previous fiscal year to fill another $ 116 million gap that is better than expected ended. This included revenue from a public health department settlement and more property taxes. The rest of the deficit was addressed by streamlining the processes in the departments.

To cope with the crisis, the city has already started reducing its budget stabilization reserves and plans to use the full amount – up to $ 500 million – over the next three years. The deficit expects about $ 100 million to be used by mid-2022 from Proposition I, a voter-approved tax hike on property sales worth more than $ 10 million, but less the next year.

Supervisor Dean Preston proposed a bill last week that will bring in more than $ 11 million in Prop. I finance this financial year for rent relief and affordable housing. If the proposal is adopted, the deficit would increase by an additional $ 11 million.

Kretan said “any decision we make about funding other programs” will affect the ability to meet the mayor’s budget priorities.

The new deficit brings more uncertainty for the struggling city authorities. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which lost 95% of its Muni tariffs, has a deficit of at least $ 68 million this fiscal year and potentially $ 168 million in the next fiscal year. The agency could lay off more than 20% of its employees and further restrict the service.

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on Friday asking them to prioritize funding for Muni, which is vital for businesses and key workers.

“We are seeing a devastating deficit for MTA and Muni,” said Cretan. “Our transport is the definition of a basic, essential service in our city. If we lose that, it will hinder our economic recovery. It will affect our ability to move workers. As we make decisions, we need to think about the bigger picture and what it means to get this city back on its feet and moving forward. “

Theresa Rutherford, a nursing assistant who works at Laguna Honda and is vice president of SEIU 1021, which represents more than 17,000 city workers, said helping frontline workers is inseparable from the economic recovery.

“Without our input, without our work, without us making the sacrifice and sitting on the line to show up for work and take care of the city, whether it has a deficit or not, the city won’t thrive, it so will not be able to pull yourself out of the pandemic and it will only be in a worse situation, “Rutherford said. “Workers are basically some of the key resources the city needs to invest in to get back on its feet.”

Chronicle author Trisha Thadani contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench

The post San Francisco faces large price range deficit that might power layoffs appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

WE NOT IN GENERAL Imagine interior designers who are particularly careful to save their clients money. You’re not bidding on $ 14,000 worth of antique Hungarian chairs or gilding the undersides of piano benches unless you are working for someone with a bottomless bench, right? In fact, designers are often asked to keep an eye on the left side of the ledger – without letting the cost cut down. So 14 of them have skillfully maintained high standards of style using strategies that are economical enough that you can try them out for yourself.

Find free art

At the home of an adventurous family in Orinda, California, designer in San Francisco Kriste Michelini I haven’t invested in expensive art and have authentic surfboards displayed all over the house. “They are the perfect work of art for this beach-loving family who wanted a casual and relaxed atmosphere,” she said.

Semi-Customize Curtains

“I re-used the Pottery Barn linen curtains by adding quality trimmings,” he said Christine Markatos Lowe. The designer from Santa Monica, California hired an upholsterer to lay a light gray modern lace from Samuel and Sons on a blue-gray linen ribbon, and then edged the ivory-colored curtains with the combination. “They looked all made to measure.”

Open dramatic doors

“Color is a necessary finish and an underrated wand,” said Phil Mahlathe New York company Belsey & Mahla. On the doors, architect Benjamin Moore’s New York State of Mind, a deep blue, “used a standard interior design component to make it special,” he said. “A fully saturated shade becomes neutral, and doorknobs, on the other hand, look beautiful.”

Find a finished mural

“We used an old opera stage set that I found at auction instead of the scenic wallpaper we wanted to do,” he said Anne Rainey Rokahr, from Trouvaille Home in Winston-Salem, NC “Cost: $ 400.”

The post Adorning on a Funds: Insider Secrets and techniques From 15 Execs appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency may have to lay off nearly a quarter of its employees to meet its planned budget deficit for the next fiscal year if the agency does not receive government aid funding, agency officials said this week.

The SFMTA is currently well on its way to running a deficit of $ 68 million by the end of fiscal 2020-21. Since the fiscal year began on July 1, revenue has declined 12.7% as San Francisco residents avoid public transit during the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency has also exhausted many of their one-off tools to save money, such as: B. the introduction of a hiring freeze, the reduction of overtime and the use of federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

Even so, Jonathan Rewers, SFMTA’s senior budget manager, told the agency’s board of directors on Tuesday that the agency’s actual and projected revenue losses are so great that cuts in service and layoffs are on the table as a method of cutting spending.

SFMTA’s current revenue projections for fiscal 2022 show a net deficit of $ 168 million, even when factoring in financial savings such as the agency’s continuation of the agency’s hiring freeze. According to Rewers, without further federal funding, the agency would have to lay off between 989 and 1,226 full-time employees – this corresponds to 18% to 22% of its employees – in order to compensate for the projected deficit.

While the board took no action on Tuesday to address the projected deficits, its members discussed possible vacation days instead of layoffs as a possible tool to reduce revenue.

The post San Francisco Municipal Transportation Company says layoffs potential with $68M finances deficit | Bay Space appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.