Welcome windfall for S.F.

It’s a stunner and a welcome one: San Francisco is getting a $415 million tax windfall. The money is spillover from an education fund, and roughly half will be directed to schools, reserves and other city functions. That leaves slightly less than $200 million to divvy up.

The scale of the early Christmas gift is just sinking in, but Mayor London Breed is already bidding to lock up the funds. Likewise, members of the Board of Supervisors have their own ideas. Deciding on the shopping list, which will take a vote, will last into next year, it’s expected.

Early betting suggests the money will be reserved for expanded homeless services outlined by Prop. C, which voters approved but is facing legal challenges. The new money could pay for the envisioned mental health, housing and other services in the measure while a legal test plays out on whether the proposition needed a two-thirds, not a simple majority, vote to take effect.

A chunk of money this big deserves a public review. Homelessness is a crucial issue, but there are a string of others: housing, transit, parks and public safety. Some are in line to benefit from the fresh money while others aren’t. City leaders need to weigh the needs, not push first thoughts from a favorite wish list.

Still, it’s a nice problem to have. Name another city that ended the week with a ninefigure surprise. San Francisco can use the money and should take its time in finding the best ways to spend it. The challenge will be to contain it to one-time outlays without building expectations and commitments that will be difficult, if not impossible, to meet in the years ahead.