By the Ballot Simplification Committee
Administrative Office Tax: A tax on a business based on its payroll expense that applies to businesses with more than $1 billion in gross receipts, more than 1,000 employees nationwide and an administrative office in San Francisco. (Proposition M)
Advisory Body: A group of appointed individuals who generally make recommendations to City boards, commissions and departments. (Propositions D, E)
Affordable Housing: Housing defined as affordable for households at certain low- and moderate-income levels. The rents or prices of this housing generally aim for the household to pay approximately 30% of their income toward housing costs. (Proposition G)
Area 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 2024, 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) | $31,450 | $35,950 | $40,450 | $44,950 |
| 50% of Median Income (Very Low-Income) | $52,450 | $59,950 | $67,450 | $74,950 |
| 80% of Median Income (Lower-Income) | $83,900 | $95,900 | $107,900 | $119,900 |
| 120% of Median Income (Moderate-Income) | $125,900 | $143,900 | $161,800 | $179,800 |
(Proposition G)
Amend: To change. (general)
Autonomous Vehicle: A vehicle driven without the active control of a human operator, for example, a self-driving car. (Proposition L)
Board or Commission: A policy body that is created and authorized by Charter or ordinance to perform certain government functions and whose members are typically appointed. (Propositions D, E)
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.”). (Propositions A, B)
Budget and Legislative Analyst: A group that provides the Board of Supervisors with independent fiscal and policy analyses, special studies and management audit reports on City departments and programs. (Proposition E)
California Coastal Act: A State law that governs the use of land in the coastal zone, which includes both land and water areas along the California coastline. The Upper Great Highway is within the coastal zone. (Proposition K)
Central Food Hub: A facility for assembling and distributing food to schools within the San Francisco Unified School District. (Proposition A)
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 be changed only 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 be changed only by a majority of the votes cast. (general)
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. (Proposition B)
City Administrator: A person appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors to a five-year term overseeing more than 25 departments and programs. (Propositions D, E)
Commissions Removed from the Charter: As used in Proposition D, this phrase refers to the Arts Commission; Building Inspection Commission; Children Youth and Their Families Oversight and Advisory Committee; Commission on the Environment; Commission on the Status of Women; Dignity Fund Oversight and Advisory Committee; Entertainment Commission; Health Commission; Historic Preservation Commission; Homelessness Oversight Commission; Human Rights Commission; Human Services Commission; Juvenile Probation Commission; Library Commission; Long Term Care Coordinating Council; Municipal Transportation Agency Citizens’ Advisory Council; Our Children Our Families Council; Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee; Public Utilities Rate Fairness Board; Public Works Commission; Sanitation and Streets Commission; Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board; Small Business Commission; and Youth Commission. (Proposition D)
Controller: The City’s chief accounting officer and auditor, appointed by the Major and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, is responsible for the City’s financial systems and procedures. (Propositions C, D, E)
Early Childhood Education: Education programs and services for children from birth through age 5. (Proposition J)
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. (Proposition C)
First Responder: A sworn member of the Police, Fire or Sheriff’s Department; a paramedic; a registered nurse; or a 911 dispatcher, supervisor or coordinator. (Propositions I, N)
Fiscal Year: The City’s 12-month budget period, starting July 1 and ending June 30 of the following calendar year. (Propositions G, J)
General Fund: The part of the City’s budget that can be used for any City purpose. Money for the General Fund comes from taxes and fees on properties, businesses, sales and other sources. (Proposition G)
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. (Propositions A, B)
General Plan: The General Plan is broad in scope and specific in nature and is intended to guide the community vision for the future of San Francisco. It is adopted by the Planning Commission and approved by the Board of Supervisors. The Plan is implemented by decisions that direct the allocation of public resources and that shape private development. (Proposition K)
Gross Receipts: The total amount of money a business receives for its products and services. (Propositions L, M)
Gross Receipts Tax: A tax generally based on the total gross receipts a business receives in San Francisco. (Propositions L, M)
Ground Floor: The street level of a building. (Proposition O)
Homelessness Gross Receipts Tax: A tax that generally applies to businesses with more than $50 million in San Francisco gross receipts. The revenues from this tax fund services for people experiencing homelessness. Under Proposition M this tax would apply to business activities with more than $25 million in San Francisco gross receipts. (Proposition M)
Initiative: A proposition placed on the ballot by voters. Any voter may place an initiative on the ballot by gathering the required number of signatures of registered voters on a petition. (general)
Limited Services Pregnancy Centers: A facility that has a primary purpose to provide services to people who are or may be pregnant but does not directly provide abortions or emergency contraception to its clients or provide referrals for those services. (Proposition O)
Ordinance: A local law passed by the Board of Supervisors or by the voters. (general)
Pension: Financial benefits paid in retirement based on employees’ age, years of service and final compensation. (Propositions F, H, I)
Policy: A high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a government body. (Propositions D, E)
Per Diem Nurse: A registered nurse employed by the City on an occasional and temporary basis to provide additional nursing staff when needed due to leave of absence, vacant positions, sick leave or other situations. (Proposition I)
Private Motor Vehicles: Any vehicle operated under engine power, such as an automobile, van, truck, or motorcycle, except for vehicles operated for governmental purposes. (Proposition K)
Property Tax: A tax assessed by the City on buildings and land. (Propositions A, B, J)
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)
Public Integrity: The government’s use of resources and powers in an ethical, honest and effective manner for the public’s benefit. (Proposition C)
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)
Reproductive Health Clinics: A clinic licensed under State law that primarily specializes in reproductive health services and that directly provides patients with abortions or emergency contraception. (Proposition O)
Retained Commissions: As used in Proposition D, this phrase refers to the Airport Commission; Asian Art Commission; Board of Appeals; Civil Service Commission; Disability and Aging Services Commission; Elections Commission; Elections Task Force (Redistricting Task Force); Ethics Commission; Fine Arts Museums Board of Trustees; Fire Commission; Health Services Board; Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors; Planning Commission; Police Commission; Port Commission; Public Utilities Commission; Recreation and Park Commission; Retiree Health Care Trust Fund Board; Refuse Rate Board; Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board; Retirement Board; and War Memorial Board of Trustees. (Proposition D)
San Francisco Employee Retirement System (SFERS): A City-run system that provides pension benefits to most City employees. SFERS also provides pension benefits to some employees of the Unified School District, Community College District, and Superior Court. (Propositions F, H, I)
Search Warrant: A written order from a judge authorizing the search of a specified place and the seizure of evidence. (Proposition C)
Seismic Retrofitting: Improving or renovating a structure to protect it from potential earthquake damage. (Propositions A, B)
Social/Emotional Wellness: Student health and well-being related to their social connections, mental health and other barriers to learning. (Proposition J)
Street Safety Project: A project to improve pedestrian, bicycle or traffic safety. This may include traffic signal upgrades, constructing and redesigning streets and sidewalks, and other infrastructure or equipment projects. (Proposition B)
Subpoena: A command to deliver documents or provide sworn testimony to an administrative agency or court. (Proposition C)
Sworn Officer: An employee of a law enforcement agency, such as a Police or Sheriff’s Department, who is duly authorized under state law as a law enforcement officer and is authorized to carry a firearm, has the power to make arrests and carries a law enforcement badge. (Proposition F)
Technology Infrastructure: The hardware, network cabling, and similar equipment needed to operate building and network connectivity systems. (Proposition J)
Transportation network company: A company that uses an online application or similar platform to connect paying customers to drivers that provide transportation using a personal vehicle. (Proposition L)
Upper Great Highway: The 2-mile section of the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard depicted in the map below. It is a four-lane public roadway that runs along Ocean Beach. (Proposition K)
Map provided by San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
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)