In 2008, when the members of the Municipal Executives’ Association agreed to concessions valued at more than $5 million over two years, we proposed, and the City agreed to, a comprehensive and collaborative effort to improve the manner in 
which the City and County of San Francisco funds and sustains vital services.
The City’s managers from diverse departments came together to contribute their considerable experience and expertise over the course of the last months. Our members, particularly those directly engaged in the budget process were surveyed and research was conducted to identify effective budget methods used by comparable jurisdictions.
In the course of developing the report, “A Call for Policy-Based Budgeting in an Era of Diminishing Resources and Expanding Needs”, it became abundantly clear that City officials — elected and appointed, past and present – are united in their commitment to providing the highest possible level of service to the people of San Francisco. We offered the proposals contained in the report as the starting point of long overdue discussion about how we can work together to achieve that goal.
“A Call for Policy-Based Budgeting in an Era of Diminishing Resources and Expanding Needs”
MEA has continuously stepped up year after year, agreeing to wage concessions, developing and supporting ballot measures that produce real reform of retiree health and retirement benefits in addition to producing our white paper on budget reform. That proactive effort to support and maintain the City and its resources never ends.
Eileen Hirst
President
Our White Paper on Budget Reform MEA_BUDGET_WHITE_PAPER