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DBI reports roughly $28 million fiscal surplus, plans hires and budget adjustments
Summary
The Department of Building Inspection reported a projected FY2013–14 surplus driven largely by higher plan‑check fees; staff plans to recruit roughly 14 positions and adjust FY14–15 budgets while negotiating potential new office space.
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection told the Building Inspection Commission on July 16 that it is projecting about a $28,000,000 surplus for fiscal year 2013–14 before accounting for deferred revenues. Director Huey introduced the department's finance briefing, and Paris Madison, DBI's chief administrative officer, said much of the gain reflects higher plan‑check receipts.
“We are projecting about $23,000,000 more in revenues than is actually budgeted,” Paris Madison said, adding that plan‑check revenue alone is expected to be about $29,000,000 compared with a prior budget of about $16,000,000. Madison said salary savings and other expenditure underspending are also contributing factors.
Madison and staff said a deferred‑revenue review will reduce the apparent surplus by an estimated $7,000,000 because some fees had been collected but not yet earned; the department therefore expects roughly $20,000,000 of usable surplus once that accounting is complete. To reflect recent receipts, DBI has proposed higher plan‑check revenue assumptions in the FY14–15 budget.
Commissioners pressed staff on how the excess funds might be spent. Several commissioners urged reserving funds to handle an expected surge of workload related to the department's mandatory seismic retrofit program and to expand staffing capacity. DBI said it expects to recruit about 14 positions in the coming months to fill vacancies in inspections, plan check and IT and to reduce reliance on salary savings.
The surplus and hiring discussion came as commissioners also raised the possibility of consolidating DBI offices into a larger city‑led office project. Staff said space planning and negotiations are ongoing and that any move would be coordinated with lead agencies and the General Services Administration.
The commission did not take formal budget action; the presentation described staff projections, planned recruitment and next steps for budgeting and space study.
