WHEREAS, Supervisor Chris Daly has proposed a Charter Amendment regarding the Department of Public Health; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed Charter Amendment increases the fiscal authority of the Health Commission; establishes stable baseline funding for the Department of Public Health; and designates universal healthcare as a goal; and,
WHEREAS, the Health Commission applauds the goal of the Charter Amendment to increase authority of the Health Commission and to ensure the continued provision of high-quality health services and programs; and,
WHEREAS, the electorate will also be voting on a 0.25 percent dedicated sales tax to ensure increased resources for health services; and,
WHEREAS, contributions for the Department from the General Fund have decreased two out of the past three years; and,
WHEREAS, ongoing budget shortfalls at the federal, state and local levels, high numbers of people without health insurance, Federal and State policy changes that reduce Medi-Cal and Medicare payments, shortages in many key health professions, and double digit increases in the cost of drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies continue to strain existing health services; and
WHEREAS, the Health Commission’s resolution approving submission of the Department’s FY05/06 budget expressed strong opposition to service cuts that reduce safety net services and strongly urged the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to preferentially protect health and human services over other services funded by the City and County if the City cannot identify enough new revenue to prevent reductions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Health Commission supports the concept of stable, predictable and adequate funding for the Health Department, including retaining earnings from its enterprises, and the base budget should be sufficient to adequately cover all health services.
I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of July 19, 2005 adopted the foregoing resolution.
Michele M. Seaton,
Executive Secretary to the Health Commission