First Responder Student Loan and Training Reimbursement Fund
Shall the City create a fund that the City could use in the future to help reimburse eligible City employees, including police officers, firefighters, sheriffs, paramedics, registered nurses, and 911 dispatchers, for student loans and education and training programs?
This measure requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.
Digest by the Ballot Simplification Committee
The Way It Is Now:
The City reimburses employees for some job-related educational and training expenses, but the City does not reimburse student loans for any of its employees.
The City does not have a fund into which the Board of Supervisors (Board) and Mayor can put City money or receive private donations to reimburse City employees’ student loans or job-related educational and training expenses.
The Department of Human Resources oversees the hiring, development, support and retention of the City’s workforce.
The Proposal:
Proposition N would create a City fund dedicated to helping reimburse eligible employees for their student loans and job-related educational and training expenses up to $25,000. Only sworn members of the Police, Fire and Sheriff’s departments, paramedics, Registered Nurses and 911 dispatchers, supervisors or coordinators who meet certain requirements would be eligible to receive payments from the fund.
In the future, the Board and the Mayor could decide to place City money into this fund, but the City would not be required to do so. The City could receive private donations in this fund.
Proposition N would allow the Department of Human Resources to create a program to provide student loan and education and training reimbursement payments up to $25,000 for each eligible employee. These payments would only begin once the fund contains at least $1,000,000 (one million dollars).
A "YES" Vote Means: If you vote "yes," you want to create a fund that the City could use to help reimburse eligible City employees, including police officers, firefighters, sheriffs, paramedics, Registered Nurses and 911 dispatchers, for student loans and education and training programs.
A "NO" Vote Means: If you vote "no," you do not want to create this fund.
Controller's Statement on "N"
City Controller Greg Wagner has issued the following statement on the fiscal impact of Proposition N:
The cost of the proposed ordinance would be dependent on decisions that the Mayor and Board of Supervisors make in future budgets, as an ordinance cannot bind future Mayors and Boards of Supervisors to provide funding for this or any other purpose. Should the proposed ordinance be approved by the voters, in my opinion, it would have no impact or a minimal impact on the cost of government of up to approximately $315,000 annually for staff to administer the program once established.
The proposed ordinance would establish the First Responder Student Loan Forgiveness Fund (the Fund). The Fund would receive money appropriated by the Mayor and Board of Supervisors or private donations made to cover student loan payments and education costs of first responders employed by the City including paramedics, registered nurses, 911 dispatchers, and sworn members of the Police Department, Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Department.
The ordinance specifies that the Department of Human Resources (DHR) may establish a program to start making payments once the Fund contains at least $1 million. To the extent that future City funds are appropriated to the Fund, it may impact the cost of government but at a level that cannot be determined at this time. Should policymakers choose to fund this program, and should the Fund reach $1 million, administrative costs could range from approximately $125,000 to $315,000 annually for one to two new staff within DHR to administer the Fund.
How "N" Got on the Ballot
On July 30, 2024, the Board of Supervisors voted 6 to 4 to place Proposition N on the ballot. The Supervisors voted as follows:
Yes: Chan, Dorsey, Engardio, Preston, Safai, Stefani.
No: Mandelman, Melgar, Peskin, Ronen.
Excused: Walton.
The above statement is an impartial analysis of this measure. Arguments for and against this measure immediately follow. The full text can be found under Legal Text. Some of the words used in the ballot digest are explained in Words You Need to Know.
Arguments are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency. Arguments are printed as submitted. Spelling and grammatical errors have not been corrected.
Proponent’s Argument in Favor of Proposition N
San Francisco First Responders put their lives on the line. We owe them our support. With Prop N, we’ll cancel student debt for police, firefighters, Deputy Sheriffs, paramedics, nurses, and 9-1-1 dispatchers.
YES on N!
Being a First Responder is tough. These jobs require a great education—often with overwhelming student debt and never-ending loans. Thankfully, new First Responders continue to commit themselves to public service, but too many end up leaving the job due to financial hardship. While staffing shortages make it harder to keep our City safe.
Prop N: Loan forgiveness for First Responders.
- Prop N makes it easier to recruit and retain First Responders.
- Prop N makes it easier for First Responders to support themselves and their families.
- Prop N helps solve our safety staffing shortages.
Prop N supports our heroes. By reimbursing student loans and covering job-related educational expenses, we’re recognizing their sacrifice and commitment to San Francisco. We’re encouraging First Responders to continue advancing skills they need with ongoing education and training, so they can keep us safe in a complex City.
Prop N helps attract and retain the finest First Responders. By offering student loan reimbursement assistance, Prop N creates more appealing career paths for prospective candidates, helping San Francisco attract highly skilled, trained dedicated First Responders. In a highly competitive job market, that’s essential.
Prop N improves public safety across the spectrum. Achieving full staffing in every public safety department means a safer San Francisco for all of us.
Join police, firefighters, deputy sheriffs, paramedics, 9-1-1 dispatchers, nurses, and elected officials throughout San Francisco: vote Yes on N.
www.SupportOurFirstResponders.com
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
Supervisor Shamann Walton
Supervisor Matt Dorsey
Supervisor Joel Engardio
Supervisor Connie Chan
Supervisor Catherine Stefani
Sheriff Paul Miyamoto
Service Employees International Union Local 1021
San Francisco Police Officers Association
San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
Rebuttal to Proponent’s Argument in Favor of Proposition N
Proposition N takes an indirect and unnecessary path to compensate our first responders. Proponents want you to believe it will "cancel debt", but let's be clear: San Francisco can't do that. The City can only use taxpayer funds to pay private debt.
A troubling precedent, Proposition N opens the door to demands from across the San Francisco civil service, and for relief from mortgage debt.
Proposition N fails to address the root causes of student loan debt: rising education costs and inadequate compensation. This measure offers a temporary fix without offering long-term financial stability for our first responders.
Proposition N could skew recruitment toward candidates with higher student debt, favoring those from expensive private institutions over public colleges and universities, inadvertently resulting in a less diverse and inclusive workforce.
It also encourages early first responder retirements once their loans are forgiven, exacerbating staffing shortages in a crisis.
Supporting first responders is vital, but Proposition N is not the right approach. Vote NO on Proposition N and advocate instead for direct salary increases for these cherished heroes.
Larry Marso, Esq.
Opponent's Argument Against Proposition N
While supporting our first responders is commendable, Proposition N is flawed and could lead to unintended consequences.
Proposition N sets a troubling precedent by using taxpayer money to pay off personal debts. This could open the door to similar demands from across the San Francisco civil service. City resources are strained, and diverting funds to personal debts may come at the expense of critical services like public safety, housing, and education.
Proposition N fails to address the underlying issues that contribute to student loan debt among first responders, such as rising education costs and inadequate compensation. Proposition N offers a temporary fix that may not provide long-term financial stability.
Proposition N could encourage early retirements, as first responders may be more inclined to leave once their loans are forgiven. This could lead to staffing shortages among our firefighters, paramedics and police officers, particularly experienced personnel most needed in emergencies.
Supporting our first responders is vital, but Proposition N is not the best way to do it.
Larry Marso
Mr. Marso is a technology executive, M&A advisor and attorney. A staunch advocate for fiscal responsibility, he authored a ballot measure to regulate San Francisco navigation/linkage centers, has fought corruption and fraud in our political parties and nonprofits, and as a member and former executive of the local Republican Party committee, has offered principled opposition.
Stop the Big Fraud on San Francisco voters! visit: https://bigfraud.com
Larry S. Marso
Rebuttal to Opponent’s Argument Against Proposition N
It’s pretty simple: To be a truly safe big city, San Francisco must support our First Responders—police, firefighters, deputy sheriffs, paramedics, nurses, and 9-1-1 dispatchers. That means helping them get the education and training they need to keep us safe.
Yes on N: Support Our First Responders.
In an ever-changing world, we need highly trained and prepared First Responders who can handle the real challenges on our streets, treat all San Franciscans with dignity and respect, and be there for us when we need them most.
But we cannot simply demand this of our First Responders. We must support them in return for how they support us—including ensuring that their lifetime of public service to this City doesn’t saddle them with overwhelming student debt.
Prop N provides student loan forgiveness for those who risk their lives every day for our safety, so we can retain and attract highly skilled First Responders who might otherwise leave the City for private positions or even leave their chosen profession altogether due to financial pressures from the high cost of living, student loan debt, and ongoing training expenses.
Supporting our First Responders with Prop N is a smart, pragmatic step towards long-term stability and safety in San Francisco and reaffirms our City’s recognition of our First Responders’ invaluable service.
YES on Prop N.
Supervisor Ahsha Safaí
www.SupportOurFirstResponders.com
Paid Arguments in Favor of Proposition N
1
San Francisco residents deserve a safe and secure city and a strong, well-staffed First-Responder system.
Today, San Francisco faces historic staffing deficits that threaten our entire public safety ecosystem.
Prop N creates a student loan forgiveness fund for first responders, an innovative incentive to attract and retain additional, high-quality 9-1-1 dispatchers, paramedics, sheriffs, firefighters, police officers, and nurses.
Proper staffing ensures our City remains competitive and capable of effective crime prevention and emergency response.
Join me and vote YES on Prop N.
Assemblymember Matt Haney
The true source(s) of funds for the printing fee of this argument: Support Our First Responders Now! Yes on N.
2
The San Francisco Sheriff's Office is facing a critical staffing crisis that threatens public safety and emergency response capabilities.
Without urgent intervention, the Sheriff's Office will continue to struggle with staffing shortages, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of our community.
By creating a student loan forgiveness fund, Prop N offers a crucial incentive to attract and retain skilled first responders in this competitive job market.
In this crisis, Prop N is essential for ensuring a safer San Francisco.
Vote YES on Prop N.
San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto
The true source(s) of funds for the printing fee of this argument: Support Our First Responders Now! Yes on N.
3
San Francisco's public safety agencies are struggling with severe staffing shortages.
As First Responders, we witness the unwavering commitment of those who serve our communities - 9-1-1 dispatchers, paramedics, sheriffs, firefighters, police officers, and nurses - and understand the detrimental effects of these shortages.
Establishing a student loan forgiveness fund is crucial for these dedicated professionals, as it alleviates financial burdens amid rising education, training, and living costs.
This measure is essential for San Francisco to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the personnel we need to keep our public safety agencies effective and resilient. Supporting student loan forgiveness ensures that those who protect and serve can do so without the heavy burden of debt.
Let's unite in support of our heroes who serve all San Franciscans.
Vote YES on Prop N.
Learn more: https://supportourfirstresponders.com
Firefighters Local 798 (Firefighters & Paramedics)
SEIU Local 1021 (911 Dispatchers and Nurses)
San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association
San Francisco Police Officers Association
The true source(s) of funds for the printing fee of this argument: Support Our First Responders Now! Yes on N.
Paid Arguments Against Proposition N
No Paid Arguments Against Proposition N Were Submitted
Legal Text
Proposition “First Responder Student Loan and Training Reimbursement Fund”
MOVED, That the Board of Supervisors hereby submits the following ordinance to the voters of the City and County of San Francisco, at an election to be held on November 5, 2024.
Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to establish a First Responder Student Loan Forgiveness Fund for the purpose of paying outstanding student loans, and job-related educational and training expenses incurred while employed by the City, for employees who are sworn members of the Police Department, Fire Department, or Sheriff’s Department; paramedics; registered nurses; or 911 dispatchers, supervisors, or coordinators.
NOTE: Unchanged Code text and uncodified text are in plain font.
Additions to Codes are in single-underline italics Times New Roman font.
Deletions to Codes are in strikethrough italics Times New Roman font.
Asterisks (* * * *) indicate the omission of unchanged Code
subsections or parts of tables.
Be it ordained by the People of the City and County of San Francisco:
Section 1. Article XIII of Chapter 10 of the Administrative Code is hereby amended by adding Section 10.100-72.5, to read as follows:
SEC. 10.100-72.5. FIRST RESPONDER STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FUND.
(a) Establishment of Fund. The First Responder Student Loan Forgiveness Fund (the “Fund”) is hereby established as a category four fund to receive any monies appropriated or donated for the purpose of making student loan payments to or on behalf of Eligible Employees and reimbursing Eligible Employees for the costs of job-related education and training they receive during their City employment.
(b) Definitions. For the purpose of this Section 10.100-72.5, the following definitions shall apply:
“Covered Position” shall mean a sworn member of the Police Department, Fire Department, or Sheriff’s Department; paramedic; registered nurse; or 911 dispatcher, supervisor, or coordinator.
“Eligible Employee” shall mean a City employee who (1) was hired by the City on or after January 1, 2025 in a Covered Position or who transitioned into a Covered Position on or after January 1, 2025, and (2) subsequently has worked full-time in a Covered Position for at least three consecutive years.
(c) Use and Administration of the Fund.
(2) After consultation with the Controller, the Department shall approve all expenditures from the Fund, consistent with this Section 10.100-72.5 and the terms of any Memoranda of Understanding between the City and employee labor organizations.
(d) Amendments. Notwithstanding the provisions of Charter Section 14.101, the Board of Supervisors by ordinance may amend or repeal this Section 10.100-72.5.