Planning department presents constrained FY26 budget; consulting spending to cover technical work
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Summary
City Planning Director Charles Dillard described a small staff, ongoing long‑range plans and a constrained FY26 budget that shifts funding to consultants for technical work; two planning data positions moved to IMT and the department proposed eliminating a seasonal temporary planner position.
Director of City Planning Charles Dillard briefed the Board of Finance May 14 on Planning’s FY26 budget, staffing and ongoing long‑range plans.
Dillard said Planning is small — three planning positions, one currently vacant, plus a part‑time temporary planner historically budgeted for up to 30 hours/week. He said the department will not lose access to the two data positions that were moved to Innovation & Technology; those positions will continue to provide analytics support for multiple departments but are now budgeted elsewhere.
Dillard said key projects underway include the North End plan (about $250,000 budget, much of it funded through a CRTC contribution), a historic preservation plan (about $200,000 total, with a $28,000 Certified Local Government reimbursement expected upon project completion in FY27) and open‑space and transportation planning initiatives. Because the office is small and some work requires technical specialty, Dillard said Planning budgets a substantial professional and consulting services line for contract technical expertise.
To tighten FY26 costs, the department proposed eliminating the seasonal/temporary planner position and modestly reducing travel, training and supplies; Dillard said the principal planner/senior planner transition is in process and the principal planner position is posted and the office hopes to fill it by July 1.
Why it matters: small planning staffs frequently rely on consultants for specialized technical work; shifting two data positions to IT changes the budget lines but officials said data support remains available to Planning and other departments.
What’s next: Dillard said the department will provide detail on consultant contracts and noted many consultants are selected through state grant processes; councillors asked for clear criteria and better outreach in consultant selection.