Government of San Francisco facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The government of the City and County of San Francisco uses a "strong mayor" system. This means the Mayor has a lot of power. The government also includes the Board of Supervisors, other elected officials, and many departments. San Francisco is the only city in California that is also a county. This means it handles both city and county jobs. In 2019–2020, the city's budget was about $12.3 billion.

San Francisco City Hall

How San Francisco's Government Works

San Francisco's government uses a "strong mayor" system. This means the mayor is the main leader. The government also has a Board of Supervisors and other elected officials. When people vote for the mayor, supervisors, and other leaders, they use a system called ranked-choice voting. This lets voters rank candidates in order of preference.

The Mayor

London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco in 2019

The Mayor of San Francisco is like the chief executive officer of the city. The mayor makes sure all city laws are followed. They also manage city departments and work with other governments. The mayor suggests new plans to the Board of Supervisors. They also prepare the city's budget each year.

The mayor can approve or reject laws passed by the Board of Supervisors. They can also attend meetings of the Board. If an elected official leaves their job, the mayor can choose someone to take their place until a new election. In an emergency, the mayor can direct city workers.

A mayor serves for four years and can serve two terms in a row. If a mayor leaves office early, the President of the Board of Supervisors becomes the acting mayor. This happened when Dianne Feinstein became acting mayor in 1978 and when London Breed became acting mayor in 2017.

As of 2019, the mayor is London Breed.

The Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors is the law-making part of the government. It has 11 members. They act like both a county board and a city council. Their job is to pass laws and approve the city's budget. Each member of the Board of Supervisors is elected to represent a specific area, or district, within the city.

City Departments and Agencies

Many different departments and agencies help run the city. Some are overseen by the Board of Supervisors, others by the City Administrator, and some are independent.

Here are a few examples of departments that help the city run:

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco Arts Commission
Department of Emergency Management (helps during disasters)
San Francisco Fire Department
Department of Public Health (manages health services)
San Francisco Public Library
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (runs Muni buses and trains)
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (manages water and power)
San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department (manages parks and recreation)
San Francisco Police Department

City Money

Taxes

San Francisco collects taxes to pay for city services. One type of tax is sales tax, which is added to things you buy. As of November 2010, San Francisco's sales tax rate was 9.5%. This money is shared between the state and local governments. It helps pay for things like public safety, transportation, and schools.

Budget

The city's budget shows how much money San Francisco expects to get and how it plans to spend it. For example, in the 2007-08 fiscal year, the city had about $6.079 billion in revenue. Most of this money came from charges for services (like fees), property taxes, and state funds.

The city spent its money on many things. More than half of the budget went to paying city workers. Other big expenses included operating costs, debt payments, and grants. The city employed over 27,000 people in various departments, including public works, public protection (police, fire), public health, and recreation.

City Laws

San Francisco's government is guided by its Charter of the City and County of San Francisco. This document is like the city's constitution. It explains how the government works. The city also publishes its laws and rules in the San Francisco Municipal Codes. If someone breaks these laws, it can be a crime.

People in San Francisco can also vote directly on new laws using something called direct ballot initiatives.

San Francisco's authority goes beyond its city limits. For example, it operates the San Francisco International Airport. It also manages the Hetch Hetchy Water System, which provides water to the city from far away.

Health Commission

The Department of Public Health helps keep San Francisco healthy. It has two main parts: the San Francisco Health Network, which includes hospitals and clinics, and the Population Health and Prevention Division, which focuses on community health. In 2019, San Francisco became the first major U.S. city to ban Electronic cigarettes.

The San Francisco Plague of 1900-1904

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, San Francisco was a busy port city. Ships arrived from many places, including Asian cities where a serious illness called the plague was present. In 1900, a city health officer found evidence of the plague in a man who had died.

Because of fear and existing prejudices, the city's health department quickly tried to quarantine (isolate) the Chinatown area. At first, people doubted the plague was in the city. The mayor, James D. Phelan, created a Board of Health with doctors. They searched Chinatown and found more cases. The quarantine was put back in place.

Health officials tried to control the spread of the illness. They closed some businesses and tried to give health checks to people leaving the city. This led to a court case, and the health checks were ordered to stop. However, city officials found ways to continue some measures. There was even an idea to create a special camp for people of Asian descent, but this was stopped due to protests and fears of admitting the plague was widespread.

Some city officials even considered extreme measures like burning down Chinatown to stop the illness. But the Chinese community, with help from lawyers and diplomats, fought against the quarantine and such ideas. They were able to get the quarantine lifted again.

Eventually, health authorities from other states threatened to stop trade with California if San Francisco didn't deal with the plague. This made San Francisco's business leaders and new mayor, George C. Pardee, work together with health and civil rights groups to clear the city of the illness.

Education

San Francisco has its own school districts. The San Francisco Unified School District manages public schools and is run by an elected Board of Education. The City College of San Francisco is a community college, and it's managed by an elected Board of Trustees.

Regional Governments

San Francisco also works with other government groups in the wider Bay Area. These groups handle things that affect many counties, like transportation and air quality. San Francisco sends representatives to these regional boards.

Several transit agencies also provide transportation services in San Francisco and nearby areas. These include Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Golden Gate Transit, and Caltrain.

Police Agencies

There are also independent police forces in San Francisco. These include the police for the University of California, San Francisco and the Park Police for the Presidio Trust and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Political Parties

Different political parties have local groups in San Francisco. These groups help organize party activities and support candidates for elections.

Democratic Party

The San Francisco Democratic Central Committee (SFDCC) is the local group for the Democratic Party in San Francisco. Its members are elected from different parts of the city.

Republican Party

The San Francisco Republican Executive Committee is the local group for the Republican Party. Its members are also elected every four years.

Libertarian Party

The Libertarian Party of San Francisco is the local group for the Libertarian Party of California. All members of this group are part of its Central Committee, which elects four officers.