SAN FRANCISCO – On his first full day in office, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced an immediate citywide hiring freeze as part of the effort to bring the largest budget deficit in the city’s history under control.
Shared during his first department head meeting, this step reflects Mayor Lurie’s commitment to tackling the city’s fiscal challenges head-on — curbing spending and improving efficiency.
The Mayor also directed departments to realign programming and spending with the city’s priorities with a focus on evidence and proven results. This includes pausing new contracts or programs that have not yet been signed or implemented.
These directives are additive to the budget instructions provided to city departments in December, allowing department heads to build on work they have been doing to identify necessary savings. The directive exempts positions which are historically challenging to staff and that directly support public safety and health.
“San Francisco is making a comeback, and I intend to put us in the best possible position to drive that growth,” said Mayor Lurie. “Our city is facing a major budget deficit, and today, the era of band-aid solutions is over. We are committed to fiscal discipline, giving San Franciscans the accountability they demand, and focusing the government on doing the core things well.”