by the Ballot Simplification Committee
100% Affordable Housing: A building is considered 100% Affordable Housing if all of its housing units are dedicated to Extremely low-, Very low-, Lower- and/or Moderate-Income households and, subject to state and/or local funding requirements, the average income for all of the units will be no higher than 80% of median income. (Bond)
Affordable Housing for Extremely Low-Income Household: Housing units that households with extremely low-income would be able to afford. A household qualifies as extremely low-income if it earns up to 30% of the median income. (Bond)
Affordable Housing for Very Low-Income Household: Housing units that households with very low income would be able to afford. A household qualifies as very low-income if it earns up to 50% of the median income. (Bond)
Affordable Housing for Lower-Income Household: Housing units that households with lower income would be able to afford. A household qualifies as lower income if it earns up to 80% of the median income. (Bond)
Affordable Housing for Moderate-Income Household: Housing units that households with moderate income would be able to afford. A household qualifies as moderate income if it earns up to 120% of the median income. (Bond)
Median Income: An income level published by the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development for San Francisco based, in part, on all incomes earned within the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Metro Fair Market Rent Area that contains San Francisco, and is adjusted based on historical income growth trends for San Francisco. In 2023, the median income for the following percentages and family size is as follows:
|
1 Person |
2 Person |
3 Person |
4 Person |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% of Median Income (Extremely Low-Income) |
$30,250 |
$34,600 |
$38,900 |
$43,250 |
| 50% of Median Income (Very Low-Income) |
$50,450 |
$57,650 |
$64,850 |
$72,050 |
| 80% of Median Income (Lower-Income) |
$80,700 |
$92,250 |
$103,750 |
$115,300 |
| 120% of Median Income (Moderate-Income) |
$121,000 |
$138,350 |
$155,650 |
$172,900 |
(Bond)
Amend: To change. (Ethics, Transfer Tax, Police Funding)
Appropriate Treatment Program: A medical treatment program that will address the rehabilitation needs of a patient. (CAAP)
Bond: A bond is a promise by the City to pay back money borrowed, plus interest, by a specific date. If the City needs to raise a large amount of money to pay for a library, sewer line, school, hospital or other project or program, it may borrow the money by selling bonds. (see also “General Obligation Bond.”). (Bond)
Bribery (current): The offering, giving or receiving of any gift to unlawfully influence the actions of a government official. (Ethics)
Bribery (if measure passes): The offering, giving, receiving or soliciting any item of value to unlawfully influence the actions of a government official. (Ethics)
Campaign Finance: The money or other resources that people give to support a person running for political office. (Ethics)
Charter: The Charter is the City’s Constitution adopted by the voters of San Francisco, relating to how the City is governed. The Charter can only be changed by a majority of the votes cast in San Francisco. (general)
Charter Amendment: A change to the City’s Charter. The Charter is the City’s Constitution. The Charter can only be changed by a majority of the votes cast. (Police Funding)
Citizens’ General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee: A nine-member body that monitors the City's use of funds generated by issuing general obligation bonds. Members of this committee are appointed by the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Controller and the Civil Grand Jury. (Bond)
County Adult Assistance Program (CAAP): A government assistance program that requires each county in California, including San Francisco, to provide certain benefits to poor residents who do not qualify for other government benefit programs. (CAAP)
Drone: A remote-controlled flying device equipped with cameras or sensors that is capable of transmitting video and photo images to people controlling the drone in real-time and recording video and photos for later viewing. (Police Procedures)
Early Voting: Voting in person at City Hall before Election Day or mailing a vote-by-mail ballot before Election Day. (general)
Ethics Commission: A five-member commission responsible for administering, interpreting and enforcing City ethics laws, including laws regulating campaign contributions, conflicts of interest, lobbyists, campaign consultants, whistleblowing, public records and public meetings. Members are appointed by the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, City Attorney, District Attorney and Assessor-Recorder. (Ethics)
Entity: An organization, such as a company, partnership or nonprofit. (Ethics)
Facial Recognition Technology: An automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying or verifying an individual based on an individual’s face. (Police Procedures)
Fully Fund: As used in Proposition B, means the voters amend an existing tax or pass a new tax in an amount sufficient to fully pay for the minimum number of full-time police officers and amount of police officer recruitment funding required by that Proposition. (Police Funding)
General Fund: The part of the City’s budget that can be used for any City purpose, including general government use. Money for the General Fund comes from taxes and fees on properties, businesses, sales and other sources. (Transfer tax)
General Obligation Bond: A promise issued by a government body to pay back money borrowed, plus interest, over time by a certain date. The government body repays the money, plus interest, with property taxes and can, if necessary, increase property taxes to repay the bond. General obligation bond measures must be approved by the voters in San Francisco by a two-thirds vote. (Bond)
Majority Vote: For the Board of Supervisors, majority vote in Proposition D and Proposition E means a vote of 6 out of 11 members. For the Ethics Commission, majority vote in Proposition D means a vote of 3 out of 5 members.
Monetary Penalty: Money, generally capped at a certain amount, that a person can be ordered to pay as punishment for violating a law. (Ethics)
Ordinance: A local law passed by the Board of Supervisors or by the voters. (general)
Property Tax: A tax assessed by the City on buildings and land. (Transfer tax)
Proposition: Any measure that is submitted to the voters for approval or disapproval. (general)
Provisional Ballot: A ballot cast at a polling place that will not be counted until the Department of Elections verifies the voter’s eligibility to cast that ballot. (general)
Qualified Write-In Candidate: A person who has completed the required paperwork and signatures for inclusion as a write-in candidate. Although the name of this person will not appear on the ballot, voters can vote for this person by writing the name of the person in the space on the ballot provided for write-in votes and following specific ballot instructions. The Department of Elections counts write-in votes only for qualified write-in candidates. (general)
Supermajority Vote: For the Board of Supervisors, supermajority vote in Proposition D and Proposition E means a vote of 8 out of 11 members. For the Ethics Commission, supermajority vote in Proposition D means a vote of 4 out of 5 members.
Surveillance Technology: Software, electronic devices, or other electronic tools designed to collect and store information. (Police Procedures)
Transfer Tax: A tax on the passing of property from one person or entity to another. (Transfer tax)
Vote-By-Mail Ballot: Ballots mailed to voters or given to voters in person at the Department of Elections. Vote-by-mail ballots can be mailed to the Department of Elections, turned in on or before Election Day at the Department of Elections office in City Hall or at the City Hall Voting Center, or turned in on Election Day at any California polling place. They are also known as absentee ballots. (general)