Overview of San Francisco City Controllers

The Controller is part of the City government's Executive Branch. The Controller is appointed for a ten-year term by the Mayor and is subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. They may only be removed by the Mayor for cause, with the concurrence of the Board of Supervisors by a two-thirds vote. Prior to the Charter of 1932 that created the roles of City Controller and Chief Administrative Officer, San Francisco had Auditors, 27 of whom served between 1850 and 1932.

Today, the Controller is the chief accounting officer and auditor for the City and County of San Francisco. Their office is responsible for the governance of key aspects of the City's financial operations.

Source: Tom Carey, Librarian & Archivist for the San Francisco History Center with the San Francisco Public Library.

*Died in office.