San Francisco · Charter amendment · Nov 3, 2026
Proposition E: City Administrator's authority and changes to city contracting
Proposition E is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot in San Francisco. This page summarizes the official documents; every statement links to its source, and we take no position on how you should vote.
The question on your ballot
“Shall the City amend the Charter to give the City Administrator more authority by centralizing the City’s purchasing rules and processes, changing how the City approves purchasing rules, changing when contracts and leases require Board of Supervisors approval, and extending the City Administrator’s term?”City Attorney letter to the Director of Elections: November 3, 2026 Ballot Questions · Aug 7, 2026
A YES vote means
A YES vote gives the City Administrator more authority by centralizing Purchasing rules, changing how they are approved and when contracts and leases need Board approval, and extending the Administrator's term.
What it takes to pass
This measure requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.
The money
The Controller's statement says the amendment would have a minimal impact on the cost of government, although at a level that cannot be determined at this time.
The Controller's statement says the amendment would increase the Board of Supervisors' approval threshold from $1 million to $4.5 million for revenue generating contracts and real property lease agreements.
The Controller's statement says the amendment would increase the Board of Supervisors' approval threshold from $10 million to $25 million for expenditure contracts.
How it got on the ballot
On July 23, 2026, the Department of Elections certified that the initiative petition calling for Proposition E to be placed on the ballot had a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
The official arguments
These are the arguments filed with the county for the official voter guide. They are written by their authors, not by the city or by us. We summarize what each says, not whether it is accurate.
Argument in favor
Says Proposition E reduces waste in city contracting by having a professional City Administrator set transparent standards, and that the mayor or a board majority can reject proposed contracting changes within 60 days.
Signed by Mayor Daniel Lurie; Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman; Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi; Nancy Tung, San Francisco Democratic Party; Former SF Ethics Chair Ben Hur; Former Deputy City Attorney Jim Lazarus; SFSU Associate Professor of Political Science Jason McDaniel; Former City Controller Ben Rosenfield; Former Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White; Firefighters Local 798; SF Building Trades; Dan Calamuci, Carpenters Local 22*; Anthony Travis Jr., Laborers Local 261*; Charles Lavery, Operating Engineers Local 3*; Teamsters Local 665; Council of District Merchant Associations; Chinatown History and Culture Association
Argument against
Says Proposition E and two related measures concentrate power in the mayor by treating checks and balances as an obstacle, and that most of the intended changes could be made through legislation and regular order.
Signed by Larry S. Marso, Esq.
Read the official documents
Neighbor opinions
Where do you stand on City Administrator's authority and changes to city contracting?
Opinions from people who signed in. Not a poll, not a vote, and not our endorsement. We don't check where anyone lives. Your name is never shown.
Keep going on your San Francisco ballot
- Board of Supervisors, District 2: 4 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 4: 3 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 6: 2 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 8: 4 candidates
- Board of Supervisors, District 10: 10 candidates
- Proposition A: Charter changes affecting various city departments and commissions
- Proposition B: Municipal finance corporation and public bank
- Proposition C: Contributions to the Housing Trust Fund
- Proposition D: Changes to ballot measure process
- Proposition F: Changes to Executive Branch Management
- Proposition G: Allowing Private Vehicles on the Upper Great Highway in Sunset Dunes Park
- Proposition H: Parcel Tax to Fund Muni Operations
- Proposition I: Changes to Real Property Transfer Tax
- Proposition J: Removal of Foreclosure Exemption for Real Property Transfer Tax
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- See my ballot plan
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