Proposition N | californiachoices.org

My vote

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. Proposition N is an ordinance that requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.

Fiscal Impact: The cost of the proposed ordinance would be dependent on decisions that the Mayor and Board of Supervisors make in future budgets, as this ordinance does not bind future Mayors and Boards of Supervisors to provide funding for this purpose. Should the proposed ordinance be approved by the voters, 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.

Next San Francisco County Measure: Measure O

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Details

Pro/Con

Pro:

Supporters argue that 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. 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 makes it easier to recruit and retain First Responders, for First Responders to support themselves and their families, and helps solve our safety staffing shortages.

A YES vote on this measure means: 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.

Con:

Opponents argue that 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.

A NO vote on this measure means: you do not want to create this fund.

In Depth

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.

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).

Source: Final Digest - First Responder Student Loan and Training

Voter Resources

City and County of San Francisco Office of Elections