SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - San Francisco could shave as much as $26.5 million from the projected $338 million budget deficit if 12,562 employees were required to take four unpaid days off from work next fiscal year.

The labor unions that represent these employees — who are paid from The City’s general fund and provide basic services such as police, fire, gardening, street cleaning and health services — would have to accept the mandatory furlough.

Facing a projected $338 million deficit for the next fiscal year, Mayor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to labor unions representing city workers April 22 asking them to renegotiate labor contracts and agree to cost reductions adding up to 3 percent. The mayor advised them to consider a number of options, including a furlough.

“Many unions have agreed to sit down and discuss the mayor’s request, but no union has yet agreed to concessions,” Newsom’s spokeswoman Giselle Barry said.

If San Francisco excluded those employees working in public safety departments, which have mandated staffing levels, it would reduce the savings to $14.2 million, according to a memo from the Controller’s Office.

Both figures are for employees paid through The City’s general fund operations budget, and does not include workers in enterprise departments that generate their own revenues, such as the airport and the Port of San Francisco. Mandatory four-day furloughs for all city and county employees would generate $44.3 million in cost savings, according to the report.

The labor contracts currently prohibit mandatory furloughs, according to the controller’s memo.

The idea to examine the cost savings of a mandatory furlough was suggested by Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who recommended the furlough take place during the week between Christmas and New Year’s days.

“Of the various cuts that we are going to have to make, this is one that can be done with the least amount of impact on The City’s taxpayers,” Elsbernd said.

The Controller’s Office report notes that the cost savings resulting from a mandatory furlough program would be “maximized and service disruption minimized” if each department were provided with the flexibility to decide which unpaid days during the year to choose.

With such flexibility The City could negotiate more unpaid days then four, Elsbernd said, suggesting 10.

If the labor contracts are not reopened and renegotiated, the alternative will be layoffs, Elsbernd said, warning that the numbers would be in “the thousands not the hundreds.”

It is not unusual for cities and counties to turn to furloughs when facing budget deficits, according to Paul McIntosh, executive director of the California State Association of Counties.

San Francisco is not alone in its budget woes or in its attempt to convince labor unions to buy into work furloughs. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed layoffs and six days of unpaid leave to reduce the Southern California city’s $400 million shortfall.

jsabatini@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:04 AM MST on Thu., May. 15, 2008 re: "Police, fire overtime draws Baltimore City Council ire"

johnn said:
hay shelia how about those new fire trucks you just bought,where did that money come from,and oh yea when its time to settle all those law suits facing the city i dont want to hear we dont have any money,because you do

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1:23 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Sick leave costing city millions"

Unreal said:
wow - it doesn't take much to realize how badly newsome has managed this city. Just read the paper for 1 solid month.

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12:13 PM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Sick leave costing city millions"

On the Q.T. said:
I wonder how many injuries police and fireman are claiming happened on the job, really happened off the job? On disability, they make more money by not working (it's tax free) then if they worked. Where do I sign up for a gig like that? Next we will hear from some cop who will say, "How dare you insinuate?" that will sound a lot like Judas asking Jesus, "was it I lord?".

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10:34 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Sick leave costing city millions"

Examiner Reader said:
$1.2 million to tell firefighter to exercise and eat right? What an effing waste of money.

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9:43 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Sick leave costing city millions"

Examiner Reader said:
Sick days at the city... With our tax dollars the city and it's employees live the lap of luxury that only hard wotking citizens could ever hope to see. Do you see any difference between the old USSR and government perks and this supposedly progressive city. It smacks of favoritism, arrogance, greed and waste. It's time to introduce a new city charter that not allow payments to city "civil servants" any more excesses that cannot be furnished to hard working, taxpayers. And by the way, make these overpaid people live in the city. They nedd a reality check about what it really is like to live here.

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6:50 PM MST on Sun., Mar. 30, 2008 re: "Stem cell research remains sticking point in budget negotiations"

P. Ackerman, Columbia said:
Why is a state doing stem cell research? Hey General Assembly, just found another few million to cut.

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5:36 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008 re: "Delaware governor orders hiring freeze, more budget cuts"

Grumpy said:
Nice to see Delaware has a governor who understands that state government spending needs to be cut. Unfortunately here in the dumb state, Martin O'Slimeball only knows how to spend, spend, spend and tax, tax, tax.

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12:02 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 8, 2008 re: "Mayor cuts millions from programs, services"

Examiner Reader said:
Why are we paying to clean up "china town alleys"? They create their own mess let them clean it up.

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11:40 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 8, 2008 re: "Mayor cuts millions from programs, services"

Examiner Reader said:
Yesterday the mayor announces the city's economic outlook is shaping up nicely against a national downturn in the economy. Today the mayor is slashing funding for local services. Which one is it?

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9:56 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 8, 2008 re: "Mayor cuts millions from programs, services"

Examiner Reader said:
"Reduce Chronic Care Public Health nurses: $451,064" What kind of sufferring is this going to cause. The DPH should be making cuts in their overpaid executive administrators rather than on the backs of sick people. Disgusting, get rid of Newsom and Katz

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9:30 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 8, 2008 re: "Mayor cuts millions from programs, services"

examiner critic said:
Good reporting!! The mayor should walk down Van Ness and Kearny (downtown) and see all the vacant store fronts and buildings for lease. He should stop making anymore statements to the business community telling them to move to Nevada if they don't like the taxes in SF. They are moving out!

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2:36 PM MST on Mon., Nov. 12, 2007 re: "Gray asks Fenty to detail budget cuts"

Examiner Reader said:
People try to get our hard-earned money, it is our job to try to keep it - that is why I learned my lesson when Glendenning was governer - I voted for Ehrlich and not O'Malley - considering that he had to work with democratic congress, he did ok - and I wonder why all my friends are moving south!!!

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12:49 PM MST on Tue., Sep. 18, 2007 re: "Sales tax up, gas tax untouched under O'Malley tax plan"

Examiner Reader said:
Poor people are not buying brand new hybrid cars and frivolous purchases, we go yard sailing, not sale boat purchasing or gambling.

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12:44 PM MST on Tue., Sep. 18, 2007 re: "Sales tax up, gas tax untouched under O'Malley tax plan"

Examiner Reader said:
In history Republicans are the ones who favor tax increases, now they complain like hypocrites on the best darn budget to fix a 1.5 billion deficit I have ever seen.e: "O'Malley: Top earners should pay more taxes" No child left behind is a federal budget proposal that Bush cut funds to the gifted an talented, The frivolous and rich seems to be the only way to fix the derlick deficit. Go O,Malley the next Kennedy!

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11:26 AM MST on Tue., Sep. 18, 2007 re: "Sales tax up, gas tax untouched under O'Malley tax plan"

Examiner Reader said:
Sales tax hurts the poor the most. When a family is forced to spend every cent it takes in, every cent is taxed. Shame on you Martin! I think I want Ehrlich back.

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6:19 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 17, 2007 re: "Md. governor to propose slots, higher taxes, to fix budget crunch"

The Scarlet Pimpernel said:
I thought that he was the "Savior of the Poor", A "Champion of the Working Man" :( NOT ! He just made the poor, poorer and the middle class, poorer...How soon to the Hershey Highway....It's me, the Scarlet Pimpernel....

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3:21 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 17, 2007 re: "Md. governor to propose slots, higher taxes, to fix budget crunch"

Examiner Reader said:
A silk-stocking Liberal raising taxes? Shocking!

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2:33 PM MST on Mon., Sep. 17, 2007 re: "Md. governor to propose slots, higher taxes, to fix budget crunch"

Examiner Reader said:
I am the sole income of my family of 5 and we are barely making it. These guys wont' be happy till they drive us all onto welfare. Cliff

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7:51 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Adios. My nice middle class income and I are leaving O'Malleyland.

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6:52 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
I for one applaud the budget, and love a good one to fix a deficit. I only wish I could be the one to tax the rich on frivolous purchases, frivolous gambling, frivolous dining, frivolous cigs and cigars, and on frivolous suits.

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4:54 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Why would anyone vote this Fraud in?

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2:57 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Is ths a surprise?? It isnly the beginning fo money mad Martin

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12:05 PM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Health care for all, tax the rich smokers and rich fatty gamblers.

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9:50 AM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Bring your children and pets in the house, batten down the hatches, O'Malley and the demorats are after any little money you have.

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9:19 AM MST on Sat., Sep. 15, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
watch your back doors md people when gov starts looking for ways to raise money because of a short fall in the budget ,u get laws like they just did in va ,a rip off traffic fees deal, watch your represenitives when they start looking for funds it means they fixing to stick there hands in your pocketts.

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7:14 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

tax him, not me said:
Hey 7:01. You really are a horse's hindquarters. What's the matter, bunkie, did Ehrlich not hire you as his speech writer? I can't understand why not, your prose is...um. Your prose is.

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7:09 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

The Tax *itch said:
O'Malley, the tax pitch. Odd, a had another word in mind to describe O'Malley. It rhymes with pitch.

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7:01 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Not a popularity contest, it never is for any governor at budget time. Someone has to fix the 1.5 billion deficit Derlick left behind, slots,cigs, and rich people purchases not a bad start. Lower the home taxes, sounds good, but do not forget the fatties tax to be equal on repairing the health care for all cost, instead of 6 pennies on the dollar at the drive thru make it 7 no one will notice.

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6:26 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Cut spending, especially the bloated public schools!

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5:36 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Get out now. If not, get out as soon as possible. O'Malley wants it all and will try to softsoap the new taxes and fees to save the children, the old, and the lame. Get out!

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3:24 PM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Md. Gov. O'Malley plans tax pitch for top lawmakers"

Examiner Reader said:
Tax purchases to fix this, the poor are not making many purchases. If you tax cigarettes you better tax the fast food a penny in the drive thru, the o beast cost the health care programs plenty more than the smokers.

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9:48 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 28, 2007 re: "Analysts: �Doomsday budget� means cuts"

Fenwick said:
They may talk about a doomsday budget but the only budget will be a tax hike on the middle class.

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3:13 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 21, 2007 re: "Prince William supervisors forgo raise after making budget cuts"

Examiner Reader said:
I am proud of Prince William county Supervisors for not giving themselves a raise during these times. Would you see Fairfax doing that? NO!

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3:13 PM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "County complains about lack of state support in budget"

Scared said:
We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire..." - Churchill "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." - FDR �But the obligations we have to meet are so overwhelming, and with BRAC on the horizon it�s just mind-boggling.� - Boniface

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5:39 AM MST on Thu., May. 24, 2007 re: "County complains about lack of state support in budget"

Kelkyen said:
Harford allowed developers to get rich flattening the landscape to turn this county into a huge sprawl. Now there is no money for overstuffed schools, no money to expand infrastructure, traffic is backed up, and crime is a problem. Awww... Maybe the county didn't need a baseball park, so many housing developments, and all those strip malls and huge box stores? Maybe fewer dollars in developers pockets and proper respect for the land would have helped? Where are the rich developers now? Probably living somewhere else while planning to pave over more of Harford county.

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11:21 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007 re: "O�Malley takes scissors to budget"

Janice Boring said:
Does O'Malley intend to cut his salary also? I think not.

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1:49 PM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007 re: "Public addresses budget concerns"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm glad these employees took steps to protect their retirement and healthcare. No actions spoke louder to the County Council. Great Job!

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12:57 PM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007 re: "Alexandria approves 2008 budget"

Examiner Reader said:
No surprise they had to raise taxes since their budget has bloated in the past couple years because they got used to high income from a good economy and even more from an inflated real-estate market.

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