NOVEMBER 2024 VOTER GUIDE
YES ON PROP F
Police Staffing AND DEFERRED RETIREMENT
ENDORSE-O-METER SAYS: STRONG YES
Supervisor Matt Dorsey’s amendment attempts to solve SFPD’s serious staffing shortage by incentivizing older officers to put off retirement for a few more years. That helps bridge the gap until San Francisco can recruit and train new officers to bring SFPD up to its recommended staffing levels. Plus, this program has key safeguards to make sure officers are actually working, not just drawing extra benefits until retirement. We’re voting yes on Proposition F because it’s a relatively low-cost, high-impact way to keep experienced police officers in the field.
The Context
San Francisco’s police department is severely understaffed, with 23 percent fewer officers than the recommended level. That’s led to concerns about public safety, as there simply aren’t enough officers on the streets to respond to or prevent crime. Supervisor Dorsey’s measure aims to solve the staffing shortage by incentivizing older officers who are eligible for retirement benefits to stay on the job for a few more years.
It’s a technical change, but a carefully considered one. Supervisor Dorsey’s amendment is a second attempt at a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), allowing officers who are eligible for retirement to work longer, with their pension money deposited into a separate, interest-bearing account each year they remain on the job. A less-tailored version of this program was implemented in 2008 with poor results. Crucially, Prop F excludes high-ranking officers from participating in this plan, and ensures participants remain in the field. That’s important, because these plans sometimes receive criticism for letting older workers coast on their achievements, doing little work while collecting generous benefits. Supervisor Dorsey’s amendment has more safeguards in place to make sure that we do not repeat history.
The Money
The Controller’s fiscal analysis found that Prop F will cost the city anywhere from $600,000 to $3 million annually in its first full implementation. The program would run on five-year cycles, needing reauthorization from the Board of Supervisors every five years.
Additional Details
This is one of several measures this fall that uses the city’s pension system and benefits as a tool to benefit public safety. We are supporting this one because it is smart about making sure officers will be effectively used instead of being able to do little work while collecting a generous salary.
Support & Opposition
Supporters include measure author Supervisor Matt Dorsey, District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí.
District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen tried to kill this ballot measure in the Rules Committee, but she is the only significant opposition to this measure so far.
Other Organizations That Share Our Endorsement: The San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and the United Democratic Club.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.