Lurie, a political novice elected in November, could go even further, slashing jobs in up to 17 city departments, with each losing around a dozen or so employees, the outlet reported. 

Details of the Democratic governor’s first budget were shared in a meeting Wednesday between Lurie’s typically tight-lipped staff and communication directors for city departments. 

Han Zou, acting communications director for Lurie, led the meeting. He was joined by Lurie’s press secretary, Charles Lutvak, and chief of staff Staci Slaughter.

Supervisor Connie Chan, the budget chairwoman, declined to share details of her discussions with Lurie but admitted that layoffs have become harder to avoid.

“I will say that even one job lost is very painful. That’s an impact not just to that individual but their family and friends, and their coworkers,” Chan said, adding that supervisors would comb the budget to find alternatives to layoffs. “Right now, there are no good options.”

If the job cuts are approved by the City Council, it will be the first time since Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was mayor of San Francisco that widespread cuts were imposed. The city laid off more than 700 employees in fiscal 2008 and 2009. The following year, another 960 were slashed, followed by 200 in fiscal 2010 and 2011. 

The mayor’s office has repeatedly declined to comment on potential layoffs and did not respond to requests on what was covered at Wednesday’s meeting. News of the possible cuts has caused widespread panic among city workers and the unions representing them.

“It’s getting to the point where the mayor’s staff is pretty openly like, ‘Everybody’s going to hate this budget, you’re going to be upset,’” said Anya Worley-Ziegmann, a spokeswoman for the People’s Budget Coalition, told the San Francisco Examiner. 

Two weeks ago, hundreds of city workers spent their lunch breaks protesting the supposed cuts. Workers from various unions held up signs and chanted: “When public services are under attack, what do you do? Stand up, fight back!”

Service Employees International Union Local 1021 President Theresa Rutherford told the crowd that the “budget will not be balanced on the backs of the working people of San Francisco who keep this community running, who keep this community thriving, and who are the basic foundation of the success in this community.” 

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR TO REMOVE REQUIREMENT FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS IN EVERY DISTRICT

She added, “We are going to fight like hell and we are going to win.” 

More protests are already being planned for next week.