Mayor Lurie asked every dept. to make cuts. The DA wants more money.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins requested a $2. 9 million budget increase for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, pushing back against Mayor Daniel Lurie's directive for 15 percent budget cuts across all city departments. The proposed cuts would reduce the DA's budget by $5. 4 million, forcing the layoff of 25 prosecutors and jeopardizing the prosecution of low-level crimes. Jenkins highlighted that salaries and benefits account for 77 percent of her department's budget, making cuts particularly detrimental.

Current caseloads are already overwhelming, with misdemeanor attorneys managing an average of 186 cases, significantly above the recommended maximum of 100. The complexity of cases has also increased, with the average resolution time for misdemeanors rising from 184 days in 2014 to 574 days in 2024. While San Francisco's crime rate has dropped to historic lows, Jenkins warned that cuts would lead to a lack of accountability and progress in addressing crime. She has previously criticized judges for diverting offenders and has charged more misdemeanor cases than any year in a decade. Her push for increased funding underscores the ongoing challenges of balancing public safety with budget constraints in the city.