BET votes to place senior advisor under City Clerk for administrative support; LRO collaboration authorized

The Board of Estimate and Taxation voted unanimously on Oct. 22 to adopt a resolution that gives the board’s full-time senior advisor an administrative home in the City Clerk’s Office and authorizes the advisor to work with the Legislative Research and Oversight division on related legislative and fiscal projects when available.

Vice President Priestenson introduced the motion and stressed the measure is intended to provide operational support — payroll, accounting, budgeting, information management and facilities — while preserving the board’s charter authority and staff independence. “This motion ensures that those essential functions are properly supported and compliant and are able to be carried out,” she said.

Casey Carl, the city clerk, described the clerk’s office role in providing administrative services to independent city bodies and told the board the clerk’s office already provides similar support to the Office of the City Auditor. “There is a formal relationship that has existed, and that continues to exist between the Clerk's Office and the Board of Estimate and Taxation,” he said. He also noted the council’s Committee of the Whole unanimously approved the same resolution yesterday and the council would take final action at its next meeting.

The resolution also authorizes the senior advisor, when not working on BET-specific tasks, to be assigned to LRO’s fiscal policy and oversight work unit so the advisor will have a team of analysts and access to research resources and tools. Supporters said that arrangement will help ensure continuity if the advisor takes leave and will give the advisor access to research subscriptions and other LRO resources.

The board took a recorded roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded on the roll-call were Commissioner Abeni (aye), a speaker identified as “Chuck Tay”/Chugtai (aye), Vice President Priestenson (aye) and President Steve Brandt (aye). The clerk announced there were four ayes and the resolution was adopted.

Supporters said the administrative home will reduce duplicative onboarding problems the board’s staffer experienced earlier in the term and will improve coordination with finance, HR, IT and other enterprise services. The resolution was drafted with input from the city attorney and executive staff, and the clerk asked members to consider the resolution alongside a BET work plan that will document the board’s priorities and staff assignments.

The board adopted the resolution and instructed staff to coordinate with council leadership and LRO about next steps; the council will consider the mirror resolution at its next meeting.