Supervisor Fiona Ma: Promises Made, Promises Kept

If your plan is for a year, plant rice. If your plan is for a decade, plant trees. If your plan is for a lifetime, educate children." - Confucius

The budget process for San Francisco is finally done. As a member of the Budget Committee, my accounting, tax and business skills were put to good use during the past five months reviewing the budget of every city department, listening to community concerns and priorities, and working with the mayor's office to balance our $250 million deficit.

Even in the toughest financial times, the long-term economic health of our City elevates certain priorities to a level too important to cut, specifically educating our children and supporting our public schools.

On February 26, 2003, in anticipation of the $21 million to $25 million in state budget cuts facing the SF Unified School District (SFUSD) during the upcoming year, Supervisor Chris Daly, city Treasurer Susan Leal and I announced a "Preserve Our Public Schools" funding package for the financially reeling SFUSD.

The proposal included immediate savings in energy costs for the school district, accountability measures to ensure monies are spent on classroom materials and the creation of a Public Education Special Fund. Money in this special fund can be used for art and music programs in public schools; health and wellness programs for students; middle and high school athletics; early childhood development; field trips for educational purposes; and reading recovery and other literary programs.

In these tough times, our responsibility to effectively partner with schools and improve on our investment in public education is paramount. The creation of the Public Education Special Fund builds on the cooperative spirit I experienced as a member the Joint City-Schools Committee and lends to greater cooperation while working for better transportation coordination, improved recreational facilities and increased resources for children.

Fiona Ma is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.