Air-travel costs soar past $1M
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
March 23, 2009
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| Travel stipend: Some city departments spend only a few thousand dollars annually on airfare, but others exceed $100,000 for such purposes as getting expert advice on promotions. (AP file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — City departments plan to spend about $1 million in airfare and more than $100,000 in new fees imposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom on officials taking to the friendly skies.
Air-travel spending in previous fiscal years is unknown because departments paid for it out of their lump “travel” budgets. But for this budget cycle, Newsom ordered departments to isolate airfare in their proposed budgets, which were submitted last month.
As The City faces a projected deficit of more than $460 million, the departments propose spending a combined $1.2 million on air travel next fiscal year, according to data from the Controller’s Office.
Newsom has also asked departments, for the first time, to budget for 13 percent of their air-travel costs to go into a proposed city fund — known as a carbon-offset fund — that would pay for local carbon-reduction projects.
The amounts for air travel vary widely, as do the reasons departments travel.
Seventeen departments have proposed air-travel budgets of several thousands of dollars. Among them, the Assessor-Recorder’s Office has budgeted $6,768, the tax collector $9,750 and the Public Library $7,826.
Other departments have air-travel budgets in excess of $100,000.
The Department of Human Resources has budgeted $175,252 to mostly pay for experts to fly in from around the country to rate fire and police employees for promotions, according to department Director Micki Callahan.
The Human Services Agency has budgeted $110,000, with the “bulk” to pay for air travel related to the foster-care system, according to agency chief Trent Rhorer.
The Juvenile Probation Department has budgeted $106,000.
“We have to transport youth to placements and then visit placements on a monthly basis,” Chief Probation Officer William Siffermann said.
Enterprise departments, such as the airport or the Public Utilities Commission, which have the highest air-travel costs, use their own funds and do not draw on The City’s operating budget.
The airport plans to spend $294,452 on air travel and the Public Utilities Commission $269,127.
Airport spokesman Michael McCarron said air travel includes the marketing team flying to locations to convince carriers to launch service out of SFO.
Public Utilities Commission spokesman Tony Winnicker said air-travel costs are generally for conferences and for visits to model facilities to learn best practices.
The proposals for air travel are for the 2009-10 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Newsom has until June 1 to submit a proposed city budget to the Board of Supervisors for review and adoption.
“City departments are still in negotiations with the Mayor’s Office on their travel costs,” Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said. “If they are spending too much, the amount will be reduced through the normal budget-negotiation process.”
Pack your bags
City’s highest requested air-travel budgets for fiscal year 2009-10:
| Department | Air-travel budget |
| Airport | $294,452 |
| Public Utilities Commission | $269,127 |
| Human Resources | $175,252 |
| Human Services Agency | $110,000 |
| Juvenile Probation | $106,000 |
| SFMTA | $48,605 |
| Technology | $39,713 |
| City Attorney’s Office | $36,760 |
| Port | $24,797 |
| Public Health | $18,350 |
Source: Controller’s Office
