San Francisco considers student loan forgiveness for first responders, including police

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to consider legislation this week that would establish a student loan forgiveness fund for first responders in the city, if voters agreed.

Why it matters: The proposal comes as the city faces a sustained staffing shortage of first responders, especially police officers.

Driving the news: Under the legislation , sponsored by Supervisors Ahsha Safaí and Shamann Walton, voters would be asked to weigh in on the potential program in November.

• The fund would pay off outstanding student loans, as well as job-related training expenses that were incurred while employed by the city.
• It'd be limited to sworn members of the police, fire or sheriff's departments as well as paramedics, registered nurses and 911 dispatchers.
• Eligible employees must have started in 2025 or later and worked full-time for at least three consecutive years. The money, which would be appropriated from city coffers or donations, would max out at $25,000 per person.

What they're saying: "Our public safety and health care ecosystem are severely strained" because of the staffing shortage, Safaí said at last week's rules committee hearing .

• "We need creative incentives to prevent a catastrophic breaking point and ensure that we can attract and retain excellent, qualified candidates," added Safaí, who is running for mayor.

State of play: An analysis by the city controller found that administrative costs for implementing the fund could range from approximately $125,000 to $315,000 annually.

• That amounts to "a minimal impact on the cost of government," the analysis noted.

What we're watching: Voters are already set to decide on a ballot measure that would increase pay for veteran police officers .

• Previous efforts to incentivize recruitment by raising new officers' pay have seen mixed results so far.