Proposition E

Creating a Task Force to Recommend Changing, Eliminating, or Combining City Commissions

Would create a Commission Streamlining Task Force (Task Force) to review the structure of the City’s 130 commissions and recommend to the Mayor and the Board by February 1, 2026, how the City could change, eliminate or consolidate commissions to improve the administration of City government. Prop E is a charter amendment that requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Prop E would have a minimal impact on the cost of government. To the extent the Task Force recommends changes to existing Commissions, the cost of government may be reduced, depending on future decisions made by the Board of Supervisors or voters.

Next San Francisco County Measure: Measure F

Pro:

Supporters argue that there are two charter amendmendment that will change San Francisco’s commission system. Vote Yes of E to reform our commissions the right way by retaining arts, library, health, small business and other critical charter commissions.

A YES vote on this measure means: you want to create a Task Force with authority to make recommendations by February 1, 2026, on ways the City could change, eliminate or consolidate commissions to improve the administration of City government; require a financial report on the City’s commissions; and give the Task Force authority to introduce ordinances to implement its recommendations, and if necessary, require the City Attorney to draft Charter amendments to submit to voters at a future election.

Con:

Opponents argue that Proposition E is Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s attempt to sabotage stronger Proposition D - real commission reform in San Francisco. Peskin proposes a weak, watered-down approach to address this city’s overgrown commission structure. But its true purpose is to halt meaningful change.

A NO vote on this measure means: you do not want to make these changes.

Proposition E is a Charter amendment that would create a Commission Streamlining Task Force (Task Force) to review the structure of the City’s commissions and recommend to the Mayor and the Board by February 1, 2026, how the City could change, eliminate or consolidate commissions to improve the administration of City government. The Task Force would include five members:

the City Administrator or a designated employee of their department;
the Controller or a designated employee of their department;
the City Attorney or a designated employee of their department;
a public sector organized labor representative appointed by the President of the Board; and
a person with expertise in open and accountable government appointed by the Mayor.

Proposition E would also require the Board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst to prepare a report on how much it costs the City to support each current commission, and how much it would save if certain commissions were eliminated or consolidated.

Prop E would authorize the Task Force to implement its recommendations in these ways:

If the Task Force recommends changes to commissions established by ordinance, the Task Force may introduce ordinances to make those changes.
Any ordinance the Task Force introduces would take effect 90 days after introduction unless the Board rejects it by supermajority vote of at least eight members.
If the Task Force recommends changes to commissions established by voter-approved ordinance, those changes may also require voter approval at a future election before the City may implement them.
If the Task Force recommends changes to commissions established by Charter amendment, the City Attorney would be required to prepare a Charter amendment implementing these recommendations for the Board to consider placing on the ballot for a future election.

The Task Force will end 24 months after its first meeting.

If Proposition E passes with more votes than Proposition D, then Proposition D would have no legal effect.

Source: Final Digest - Creating a Task Force to Recommend Changing, Eliminating or Combining City Commissions

City and County of San Francisco Office of Elections

Pro:

Con:

2026 Propositions

2026 Local Ballot Measures

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