SFMTA cuts: Some San Francisco crossing guard positions could possibly be lower as company tackles $50 million finances deficit

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Crossing guard Joel Kamisher is nervous his job could possibly be on the chopping block as SFMTA tries to determine learn how to sort out a $50 million finances deficit for the subsequent fiscal yr.

“I believe it’s totally brief sighted as a result of I believe we truly save town cash by stopping accidents,” Kamisher siad.

This additionally issues Fiona Tran, who usually walks her nieces to highschool within the metropolis.

“I believe that’d be fairly unlucky as a result of they do assist with security to assist youngsters like them cross the road,” Tran mentioned.

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Supplies posted on-line present SFMTA has found out learn how to make up $35 million, however the board nonetheless must weigh choices to shut the remaining $15 million hole.

These choices embody:

• Muni service cuts
• Different agencywide program cuts, together with to the college crossing guard program.
• Or spending $15 million in reserve funds

SFMTA says they do not wish to lower the crossing guard program and that their management just isn’t endorsing this feature saying in a press release, partially:

“If it ever turned vital to chop the crossing guard program due to our monetary disaster, we’d search excessive and low for various funding to maintain this system going. Protecting kids and their households secure is an pressing precedence for our company and for town.”

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SFMTA additionally factors out the web supplies associated to the choice of eliminating the college crossing guard program say, they may discover an alternate funding supply.

Kamisher can be a union rep for SEIU Native 1021, which represents workers together with college crossing guards. He is retired and says the job, which is a cut up shift, helps complement his revenue.

“It’s totally unhappy,” Kamisher mentioned. “I really feel that lots of people depend on this revenue. Usually the crossing guard is a second particular person within the family that dietary supplements the household’s revenue and makes it potential for them to reside in San Francisco.”

The SFMTA board is discussing these choices Tuesday.

A choice is anticipated to be made on March 4.