LATC budget office projects year‑end revenue gain and notes vacancy elimination

A Department of Consumer Affairs budget analyst presented the Landscape Architects Technical Committee’s fund condition and revenue projections, reporting larger‑than‑expected revenue in 2024–25 and highlighting personnel and telework developments that could affect future costs.

Luke Fitzgerald, DCA budget analyst, said the committee’s beginning base budget incorporated May revise adjustments of about $1,153,000 and that, through month 9 projections, the committee expects to spend roughly $887,000, leaving a reversion of about $266,000 (23.05 percent). He said 2023–24 actuals showed $1,042,000 in receipts, comprised of $128,000 in initial license fees, $865,000 in renewals, and $49,000 in citations and other revenue. For 2024–25, Fitzgerald projected $1,455,000 in revenue: roughly $164,000 initial fees, $1,245,000 renewal fees, and $45,000 other receipts. Projected expenditures for the current year were about $958,000, leaving an estimated fund balance near $1,150,000 (about 10.2 months in reserve).

The budget office cautioned that the fund condition is a snapshot. Fitzgerald said ongoing cost drivers include general salary increases and retirement rate adjustments; the office applied a conservative 3 percent ongoing expenditure increase in out‑year projections. He added that future legislation or unanticipated events could create cost pressure and that the budget office will monitor monthly.

Committee members asked whether the projected underspend in permanent positions reflected vacancies or mandated reductions. Laura Zuniga (presenting on the program manager’s behalf) said an earlier administrative direction required position reductions among vacant positions; the LATC and the related board each lost one vacant position. Committee members asked whether the May revise or telework policy could increase facility or lease costs. DCA staff said the department is assessing space needs and that some programs are working to identify additional space; one program indicated it had sufficient space for the short term.

Budget staff also described delinquent/late fees: the committee’s delinquent‑fee receipts were tied to renewal delinquency for landscape architects (fees charged when renewal is submitted after a deadline). The budget office said some line items (for the Attorney General and administrative hearing costs) receive special monitoring, but otherwise department finance focuses on the bottom line rather than individual account lines.

Committee members and staff noted that projections did not yet reflect the May revise issued the day before the meeting and that the budget office would update numbers as those changes are finalized.