Background

With support from the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors, the City has come together to address public safety needs through the Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program (ESER, pronounced EE-sir).  

This website, maintained by Public Works and the Capital Planning Program, provides up-to-date information on the status of the ESER program. 

The Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program is a series of general obligation bonds that began in 2010 focused on first responder infrastructure and related services. Find more information on major programs, the City's Capital Plan and general obligation bonds to address critical, capital needs at OneSF.

View the ESER 2020 Bond Report.

Accountability

The Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program includes a comprehensive set of public oversight and accountability measures that apply to each of the funding areas. These measures are in addition to California's bond law requirements.

​No property tax rate increase
As the City pays off exisiting bond projects, it is able to make new investments without raising the tax rate.  ESER 2020 will not increase property tax rates beyond their fiscal year 2006 levels. Click the graph to the right for more details.

​Oversight organizations
Citizens’ General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee 
San Francisco Fire Commission
San Francisco Police Commission
Office of Resilience and Capital Planning 
 
Accountability measures can be summarized under three basic principles of commitment to cost accuracy, public involvement, and transparent selection criteria and rules.  

Commitment to Cost Accuracy
Each of the projects in the bond program has a scope with realistic costs and schedule estimates that spell out construction and project cost contingencies, schedules and inflation estimates.

Commitment to Public Involvement: Opportunities for Oversight and Public Participation
There will be regular public reporting of bond expenditures through a dedicated bond website updated quarterly; periodic review before the Fire and Police Commissions, Capital Planning Committee and Board of Supervisors as part of the 10-year capital plan and annual capital budget processes. Per the Administrative Code (Section 5.30 to 5.36), the Citizens’ General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee (CGOBOC) reviews, audits, and reports on the expenditure of bond proceeds in accordance with the will of the voters. GOBOC will submit audits and reports to, Police and Fire Commissions, Board of Supervisors and the Mayor’s Office.

Also per the Administrative Code (Section 2.70 to 2.74) and 60 days prior to the issuance of any portion of the bond authority, Public Works must submit a bond accountability report to the Clerk of the Board, the Controller, the Treasurer, the Director of Public Finance and the Budget Analyst describing the current status and description of each proposed project and whether it conforms to the express will of the voters. 

Transparent Selection Criteria and Rules
There are objective means of prioritizing projects though the use of criteria that are identified in the bond, and clear rules for funding, scope or prioritization changes based on the same criteria, should changes be necessary.

"San Francisco’s 10 Year Capital Plan establishes public safety and emergency response as a top priority. Strengthening neighborhood police and fire stations, extending the Emergency Firefighting Water System to the west side and improving our 9-1-1 call center are all key priorities. Due to City fiscal policy that retires old debt before we issue new bonds, this measure will not increase the property tax rate for San Franciscans."
-Naomi M. Kelly,
​City Administrator

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Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond Program | City and County of San Francisco