Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Board of Supervisors Budget Chair Mark Farrell today announced an Online Budget Town Hall to engage the public in the City’s budget process and ask residents for ideas on how to balance the City’s two-year budget. The current projected two-year budget shortfalls are $66.7 million in FY 2014-15 and $133.4 million in FY 2015-16.

“We’re excited to hear directly from residents about how they want us to invest their tax dollars,” said Mayor Lee. “We must craft a balanced budget that keeps our City affordable, invests in housing and transportation and protects our social safety net services for our most vulnerable families. Our budget must also keep us on a steady course of fiscal stability, stimulate the economy, continue to create jobs, invest in critical infrastructure as well as address more long term challenges identified in the City’s Five Year Financial Plan.”

“As Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, I am committed to a robust community process that allows for an open dialogue on our City’s budget priorities,” said Supervisor Farrell. “Although San Francisco is in a much better place financially than recent years, we cannot take anything for granted as it relates to our local economy and must continue to ensure that our City is fiscally responsible, so that we have the resources to keep our City safe and successful.  Hearing from the public is absolutely essential to our process.”

The live Town Hall will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Viewers can watch it LIVE on TV on SFGovTV 2, cable channel 78, or connect to the live stream through the Mayor’s home page at www.sfmayor.org or directly through YouTube at www.youtube.com/mayoredlee. Contributing to the goal of creating an inclusive budget process and leveraging technology to enhance civic participation, this digital venue will allow San Francisco residents to participate in the budget process by having a live conversation with Mayor Lee and Supervisor Farrell about budget priorities and ideas for spending and cost savings.

The public is encouraged to submit questions and comments in advance and will also have an opportunity to engage in the conversation and ask questions live. Questions can be submitted directly to Mayor Lee by emailing them to mayoredwinlee@sfgov.org with the subject line “Online Budget Town Hall.” Questions via Twitter will be incorporated into the dialogue, which can be tweeted in advance or during the Online Town Hall to @MayorEdLee using hashtag #SFBudget.

As part of this year’s budget engagement process, Mayor Lee is also meeting with the Board of Supervisors, community-based organizations and advocacy groups, neighborhoodand business leaders, labor representatives, and City Commissions and Department Heads to discuss budget priorities and innovative cost savings ideas throughout the budget process.

For more information on the City’s budget and to give your feedback, go to: www.sfmayor.org/budget.