SAN FRANCISCO―In July 2016, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 in favor of a proposal to allow San Francisco City College to offer free tuition to students. The proposal would nix enrollment fees for students, as long as they were residents of San Francisco or working part-time.

An increase of $5 million in property transfer tax would be issued to help cover the costs of the measure. 

The board’s Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously on November 30 to forward $9 million in appropriations to fund the first year of tuition for students.  The board is slated to vote on Wednesday, December 13, before winter break.

The city of San Francisco has not finalized its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The revised budget is expected to be presented by the Mayor’s Office on Wednesday, December 14, which is under review after voters rejected a sales tax to finance over $150 million annually in homeless services and improvements to the city’s transportation system.

The proposal from President-elect Donald Trump would cut federal funding to cities, like San Francisco,  with immigrant “sanctuary” policies which the board has to take into consideration with the budget.

Supervisor Jane Kim stated, ““We made a commitment in July to the city of San Francisco and our residents that we would make City College free if the real estate transfer tax passed.”

Written By Deanna Morgado and Casey Jacobs