With a budget of nearly $15 billion — which is more than some states — San Francisco is the only place in California with a merged city and county government. It’s run by a charter that defines the way city and county functions work together.
The study by the think tank SPUR — called “Designed to Serve” — highlights eight recommendations to help restructure the government to “better meet the needs of San Franciscans.” SPUR spoke to several city officials in the production of this report — both current and former — including the mayor and Board of Supervisors.
Their recommendations include things like increasing mayoral authority and redefining reporting structures across departments. There are also recommendations to aid legislative processes — like increased support for the Board of Supervisors and raising the number of signatures needed to put ballot measures in front of voters.
