Building Inspection Commission fails to advance DBI budget after 3–3 tie

The Building Inspection Commission voted on a motion to forward the Department of Building Inspection’s proposed fiscal year 2011–12 budget to the mayor’s office but the motion failed on a 3–3 roll-call tie. Commissioners said they wanted more detail on training allocations and certain line items before advancing the proposal.

Pamela Levin, DBI deputy director for administrative services, summarized the budget and staffing plan. She said the department’s proposal would add approximately 13.01 FTEs — described in the presentation as translating to 17 positions — and that about 9.24 FTEs would be clerical positions spread across divisions. Levin also said the budget includes additional funding for training (she cited a roughly $250,000 figure with about a $90,000 increase over the prior year), a disaster coordination unit with current‑year emergency supplies budgeted (about $120,000), and requests to fill mechanical‑engineering and database administrator positions where recruitment has been slow.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about accounting treatments and variances. One commissioner raised an apparent inconsistency in how 'payments from other departments' are reflected in inspection services versus permit services subtotals; Levin explained those interdepartmental payments are treated as reductions to expenses (an internal‑service accounting practice) rather than recorded as revenue and walked through examples from the budget summaries.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Walker moved to support and move the budget forward while requesting additional detail; the motion was seconded. In the roll call vote the motion failed 3–3 and the chair noted that five votes are required to advance the budget to the mayor’s office. Levin said DBI must submit a budget package to the mayor’s office by Feb. 22 and that the mayor’s office may compile its own package, but staff would attempt to negotiate changes if the commission desires.

Why it matters: The budget would add personnel and funding meant to reduce inspection and counter backlogs, expand training and stand up a disaster coordination unit; without commission approval, the mayor’s office will receive the department submission and may adjust allocations.

Next steps: Commissioners discussed holding a special meeting before the Feb. 22 submission deadline to revisit the budget. DBI counsel confirmed the commission may call a special meeting and staff said they will coordinate availability and logistics.