Meeting the Transportation Needs of a Growing City - SFMTA Budget for Fiscal Years 2021-2022

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Project Introduction

COVID-19 and the Revised SFMTA Budget

Due to changing economic conditions and worsening revenue projections related to COVID-19, the SFMTA is submitting a revised budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, including a proposal to keep Muni fares at current levels, except for the minor changes listed below. The revised budget relies on the significant use of one-time sources like development impact fees, federal one-time grants and all of the SFMTA’s current fund balance to maintain core services. While the budget is balanced for the next two years, it is not financially sustainable in the long run. San Francisco must explore new sustainable sources to fund transportation.

Funding transportation is critical: there is no economic recovery without strong public transportation.

Learn more about the Transportation Recovery Plan at SFMTA.com/TRP

The revised budget will be reviewed by the SFMTA Board at a special meeting on June 30th at 1p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to participate remotely. To ensure your comments and questions on the budget are received by the Board in advance of the meeting, please send an email to sfmtabudget@sfmta.com or call (415) 646-4470 by 5pm on Monday June 29th. Remote meeting access instructions are found at SFMTA.com/calendar.

Free language and American Sign Language assistance can be provided with at least 48 hours' notice. Contact Jonathan Streeter, Public Information Officer, at 415.646.2109 or jonathan.streeter@sfmta.com to confirm your request.

Budget Background: How we got here

Our budget process began in January 2020 under very different economic circumstances. We faced a structural budget deficit, but we were confident there was time to pursue new funding sources. Our proposed budget also included recommendations from the Muni Working Group to expand service in anticipation of the City’s future transit needs. COVID-19 changed everything.

As a result of the pandemic, most SFMTA sources of revenue, including fares, parking revenues, and citations have practically disappeared.Fare and parking revenue, which make up nearly half of our budget, are down 80-90%. We do not know when they will return to pre-emergency levels.  

While we will aggressively pursue funding sources at the federal, state and local level, including funding as part the federal CARES Act, our budget reflects some tough choices. In order to balance the FY 2021-2022 budget and the budget this fiscal year, we have taken decisive, immediate actions to reduce our spending including: 

  • Reducing or eliminating all unscheduled overtime work; 
  • Reducing the purchasing of goods and services to just the immediately needed essentials; and 
  • Freezing nearly all vacant positions,

These cost control measures will buy us time, but we must seek new sustainable sources of funding.

Revised FY 2021-2022 Budget

Muni Fares:

The updated budget will keep Muni fares at current levels except for minor changes listed below. This includes maintaining all of our fare discount programs, including free Muni for low-to-moderate income youth, seniors, and people with disabilities.

In addition, the proposed budget would expand Free Muni to all individuals experiencing homelessness who are certified by the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

The following is the complete list of proposed fare changes:

1) Extend the one-day Muni pass to the farebox

2) Eliminate the discount for Passports purchased on Clipper

- Most are purchased in-person at the sales kiosk and not “electronically pre-paid” as the discount was intended for

3) Extend the bulk pre-purchase discount to all fare items and creating three tiers ranging from 10% to 20% discounts based on volume purchased, and

4) Free Muni for individuals experiencing homelessness who are certified by the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH).

If approved, all fare proposals would be effective on November 1, 2020.

Free Muni for all youth is no longer included in the budget. This program was going to be funded through modest fare increases on Clipper discounts and Monthly Passes, which will no longer be implemented. 

More information on all of our discount programs can be found at SFMTA.com/fares

Fines, Fees and Rates

All other fines, fees, rates and charges remain unchanged from what was previously approved by the SFMTA Board on April 21, 2020 but with a proposed operative date of January 4, 2021 with the following exceptions:

Effective July 1, 2020

(1) Parking meter rates including rates for special events, Sunday and evening parking enforcement, and demand responsive parking meter caps

(2) SFMTA and Parking Authority garage rates and fees

(3) Taxi permit fee waiver

 Effective August 1, 2020

(4) vehicle boot removal fee

(5) vehicle towing, towing subcontract, lien, auction, and storage fees

(6) community service plan processing fees

Public Outreach and Engagement

To help members of the public understand the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, in February 2020 we began inviting all interested parties to participate as we set out our Operating and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022. With both virtual and in-person meetings, we provided multiple opportunities for everyone to learn more about what we do and to understand the tough choices that a large city like San Francisco faces. 

Throughout the budget-setting process, meeting dates have been provided on this website and in public notices.

Initial Proposed Fare and Service Changes (March 2020)

Proposed Fines and Fees (March 2020)

Public Meetings

Board of Directors Meetings

Tuesday, June 30, 1pm

Tuesday, April 21, 1pm

Tuesday, April 7, 1pm

Tuesday, March 17, 1pm

City Hall, Room 400

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Online Budget Conversation with Jeff Tumlin

Thursday, April 2, 11:30am - 12:30pm

Online Budget Open House

Thursday, March 19th, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

How We Have Used Your Feedback

All incoming public feedback via the live-stream meeting, open house meetings and emails was sorted and analyzed. The information has been incorporated into the operating and capital budget documents and transmitted to the SFMTA Board as required by the City Charter. The SFMTA Board of Directors reviewed the proposed operating and capital budget in public hearings on March 17th and April 7th. The budget was initially voted on by the SFMTA Board of Directors on April 21st.  Since that date, SFMTA has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis by re-examining the proposed budget, and as a result, will be reviewing needed changes on June 30, 2020.


Contact Information

Email: sfmtabudget@sfmta.com
U.S. Mail: SFMTA Board of Directors, One South Van Ness Avenue, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103

☎ 415.646.2109: For free interpretation services, please submit your request 48 hours in advance of meeting. / Para servicios de interpretación gratuitos, por favor haga su petición 48 horas antes de la reunión. / 如果需要免費口語翻譯,請於會議之前48小時提出要求。 / Para sa libreng serbisyo sa interpretasyon, kailangan mag-request 48 oras bago ang miting.Đối với dịch vụ thông dịch miễn phí, vui lòng gửi yêu cầu của bạn 48 giờ trước cuộc họp. / Для бесплатных услуг устного перевода просьба представить ваш запрос за 48 часов до начала собрания. / Pour les services d'interprétation gratuits, veuillez soumettre votre demande 48 heures avant la réunion. / 무료 통역 서비스를 원하시면 회의 48 시간 전에 귀하의 요청을 제출하십시오. /  無料通訳サービスをご希望の場合は、会議の48時間前までにリクエストを提出してください。 / บริการให้ความช่วยเหลือในหลายภาษาด้านภาษาฟรี ณ ที่ประชุมโดยต้องแจ้ง ล่วงหน้า 48 ชั่วโมง /
 
يمكن تقديم مساعدة مجانية في اللغة المحكيّة ولغة الإشارة الأميركية، عند طلبها قبل 48 ساعة على الأقل. لتأكيد طلبك، يرجى الاتصال بجوناثان ستريتر، مسؤول التواصل، على الرقم 415.646.2019 .