According to the proposal put forward by Mayor London Breed on May 31, 2023, San Francisco’s budget is expected to reach a record high of $14.6 billion for each of the next two fiscal years. At the same time, the city has to close a significant two-year deficit of about $780 million resulting from higher costs, unexpected expenses, and lower-than-projected revenue driven by office vacancies. 

The mayor and the Board of Supervisors are under pressure to address San Francisco’s better known and more visible challenges while also balancing the budget. As a result, some city departments are facing budget cuts, including the Department of Early Childhood, whose funding would be reduced by 13%. This is one of the largest cuts to any city department, and affects critical services for children and families.

The proposed cuts to the Department of Early Childhood is partly the result of changes the mayor wants to make to commercial rent tax on subleased office space in a bid to improve the business climate downtown. Most of the funds from this voter-approved measure called “Baby Prop C” goes towards early care and education, which improves access to child care and the quality of learning environments, and, ultimately, the outcomes that set children up for success in school and in life. 

The spending plan and the proposed changes to Baby Prop C have been met with stiff opposition from the early care and education community (see here and here). A coalition of advocates is bringing together impacted constituents — parents, family members, child care providers, educators and administrators, and staff from family serving organizations — to protest these cuts and preserve San Francisco voters’ intention of dedicating much-needed resources to a fragile early childhood ecosystem in one of the most expensive cities in the country. 

On June 6, almost 300 people came together at City Hall to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting. Some of the family childcare educators had to close their centers for the afternoon, losing income, to attend and show support and many parents were accompanied by their children. Almost 200 of those who assembled gave moving public comment (including many with their young children) on how the proposed funding cuts would create lasting impacts not only for children, families, educators and the early childhood ecosystem but also to the businesses that are critical to the revitalization of San Francisco. 

Join early childhood advocates for a rally in front of City Hall at 10:30 AM on June 15th when the Department of Early Childhood will present their budget to the Board of Supervisors. There will be an important public comment opportunity after the rally for the community to voice concerns and convince the Supervisors to vote NO on the proposed changes to Baby Prop C. 

Follow this link to to learn more about other upcoming opportunities where you can participate in in the efforts to protect Baby Prop C’s critical investment in young children. 

Child care is basic infrastructure. Quality care ensures that children receive critical academic and socio-emotional support in their early years, and that they arrive in kindergarten ready to learn. Investing in child care also supports workforce development, a more stable economy, and a city that is well-positioned for an economic recovery. All San Franciscans have a stake in these things, whether or not they have young children. 

If we don’t speak now, it will be as if we have never spoken.