S.F. AIDS groups spared huge funding cuts

Several San Francisco AIDS groups that faced large funding cuts as part of Mayor Gavin Newsom's efforts to eliminate a projected $307 million budget deficit will get back some of the money they were expected to lose, reports the Bay Area Reporter. City supervisors have added back $28 million in city spending, including $2.6 million for AIDS services. The funding restoration will provide $140,000 to the Positive Resource Center--which through federal matching funds will result in a total of $420,000 in additional funding for the organization; $400,000 to Shanti; and about $500,000 to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The new appropriations are dependent upon several new taxes that voters must approve in November, city officials say. If the tax package fails to pass, the agencies could face the same funding cuts next year.