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Building Inspection Commission unanimously approves DBI budget for FY202122
Summary
The Building Inspection Commission voted unanimously to approve the Department of Building Inspection—s proposed budget for FY2020-21 and FY2021-22 after a presentation on revised revenue projections, planned hires and continued follow-up on permit-tech staffing. Commissioners asked staff for more data on service impacts before any future requests to add FTEs.
The Building Inspection Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to approve the Department of Building Inspection—s proposed budget for fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22, following a presentation from DBI Deputy Director Tyrus Madison and questions from commissioners.
Madison told the commission the department is proposing higher revenue estimates than in the prior budget year for key streams: plan-review revenues are projected at $28.5 million (up from a $27 million budgeted figure), building permit revenues at about $14.5 million, and interest income was increased to $2.5 million after several strong years of interest receipts. "Based on our prior actuals and the activity that we anticipate next year, we're proposing to actually increase" plan-review and permit revenues, Madison said during the presentation.
On expenditures, Madison said the department is proposing to reduce its attrition assumption to allow hiring roughly 10 additional positions to respond to rising housing workload and code-enforcement demands, and to bolster technology, communications and legislative support. He described a division-level total of about $89.6 million and said the increases in projected revenues would reduce the amount of fund balance required to balance the budget.
Commissioners pressed DBI for clearer staffing counts and service-impact metrics before recommending changes to FTE lines. Several commissioners and DBI staff walked through current housing-inspection staffing: Madison said housing inspection is budgeted for seven permit technicians plus one supervisor but that three vacancies existed and conditional offers were expected in March. "We had those vacancies... and those were the three that were going to be filled," Madison said when describing recent hiring activity.
Deputy City Attorney Rob Capla and counsel Rob Kaplan advised that adding FTEs can be constrained by mayoral guidance, and that any department proposal to add positions should include written justification and follow the formal budget amendment process. DBI will submit the budget to the mayor and controller on Feb. 21, and Madison said the department expects to revise the figures further after the city—s nine-month report in March.
A motion to approve the budget carried on a roll-call vote with all commissioners voting yes. The commission recorded the approval as a recommendation to the mayor—s office and controller, noting that budget lines and staffing can be revisited in subsequent amendment cycles.
The commission scheduled follow-up to provide more precise headcount and documentation of any service "slippage" tied to vacancies; DBI committed to returning with requested details.
