206,546 / 73.1% Yes votes ...... 75,959 / 26.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Since 1991, the City has had a Children's Fund which annually receives a set portion of the property tax. Currently, the amount set aside is 2 1/2 cents for each $100 of assessed property value. The Fund pays for services for children under 18 years of age, including child care, health services, job training, social services, educational programs, recreational and cultural programs, and delinquency prevention services. The Children's Fund currently has no advisory committee. The Fund is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2002.

Proposition D would authorize a Charter amendment which would allow the Children's Fund to be extended for an additional 15 years, until the year 2016. Proposition D would also authorize the property tax currently set aside for the Fund to be increased to 3 cents for each $100 of assessed property value until the fund expires in 2016. Adjustments would be made to this tax levy based upon the results of the 2010 Census.

Proposition D would also authorize the Mayor to appoint a 15-member Children's Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Mayor and the City's Department of Children, Youth and Their Families on how the City should spend money. Based on Proposition D, the City would be required to prepare a Community Needs Assessment to determine services eligible to receive money from the Fund.

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition D:

Proposition D would ensure that San Francisco's children are healthy, ready to learn, succeed in school and live in stable, safe, and supported families and communities.

Every neighborhood in the City is served through the 180 programs funded by the Children's Fund.

The Children's Fund has improved the lives of our children by re-ordering City priorities without raising taxes. The Children's Fund has started important new programs, expanded others, and prevented budget cuts in children's services.

The Children's Fund is cost-effective, at $250 per child served, and an investment in the future.

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition D:

Instead of funding non-profit organizations through City Hall, where precious dollars are eaten up by overhead and the salaries of appointees who will administer the Fund, City residents should be given a tax rebate and allowed to choose where to give the money.

San Franciscans should be trusted to voluntarily support charities and arts programs for needy kids and not be taxed for this purpose.

By funneling even more money to children's services, other services must be cut from the City budget. This proposition would bind the hands of City officials to make a fair budget.

Committing a set portion of the property tax for the next 16 years is poor fiscal policy. We have no way of knowing how our economiy will fare so far into the future. This proposition might force difficult choices later on.

League of Women Voters

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