Voters Will Decide Proposition A on November 3 Ballot
The measure would allow supervisors to move 42 commissions from the city charter to the municipal code.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Commercial
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Should city government power shift from independent commissions to elected supervisors?
San Francisco voters will head to the polls on November 3 to decide the fate of Proposition A, a charter amendment aimed at restructuring city governance. The measure seeks to shift dozens of boards and commissions from charter control to the municipal code.
Why it matters
Proponents argue that current charter language creates a rigid, messy structure that stalls necessary city changes. The ballot measure presents a choice on whether to simplify the legislative process for oversight and real estate management.
The city currently operates 152 boards and commissions, 42 of which are fixed by the city charter. The controller estimates that passing the measure will result in $365,000 to $450,000 in annual savings, while campaign contributions for the measure have reached $300,000.
The players
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
The 11-member governing body that placed Proposition A on the ballot.
The details
Proposition A permits the Board of Supervisors to move commissions into the municipal code and use resolutions rather than ordinances to approve legal settlements. It also grants the city administrator authority to manage city real estate while removing mandatory annual reporting requirements for boards. If passed, the measure would add two members with lived experience of homelessness to the Homelessness Oversight Commission.
Timeline
Voters will cast their ballots on November 3, 2026.
Across the Bay
Proposition A follows a pattern of using ballot measures to fundamentally alter the city's charter-level governance framework, similar to the 2018 Privacy First Policy. The measure continues the trend of placing administrative power changes directly before the electorate.
If Proposition A passes, residents will see shifts in how oversight boards function and how city real estate is managed. The measure requires only a simple majority vote to take effect.
The takeaway
Voters should weigh whether the proposed administrative flexibility outweighs the loss of charter-level protections for city commissions. Track the upcoming election results on November 3 to see if this shift in City Hall authority gains public approval.
Further reading
Learn more about the local Commercial landscape and its impact on city operations.
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Should city government power shift from independent commissions to elected supervisors?
