Supes Getting Played on Mid-Year Budget CutsPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Nov. 24‚ 2008“The Mayor proposes and the Board disposes,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin at a Board meeting in June 2007 – reminding colleagues that the two branches of government are co-equal when it comes to passing a budget. But Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has once again proposed mid-year cuts that adversely affect health care for the indigent, acts like it’s not true. Virtually all cuts restored last summer by the Board are back on the chopping block – with Health Director Mitch Katz admitting they prioritized them as the first to go. Unilateral mid-year cuts also violate the City Charter, as only the Controller can “freeze” funds during a fiscal emergency – so the Mayor must get Board approval for it to happen. But the Mayor-appointed Health Commission reviewed all these cuts at an Election Day meeting (when everyone was distracted), and most will take effect on January 1st. There is no reason why these cuts must go into effect now – with four new Supervisors taking office January 8th. And with the state legislature in special session to deal with the fiscal crisis, making immediate cuts at the local level is excessively premature. |