San Francisco Building Inspection Commission approves DBI budget for 2009–10

The Building Inspection Commission on Feb. 4 unanimously approved the Department of Building Inspection’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2009–10, after department staff described a $7.2 million shortfall and recommended personnel and project reductions.

Acting Director Vivian Day told the commission the budget submitted to the mayor has not been revised since the department’s last submittal and may change after mayoral review. Day said the department must balance an approximate $7,200,000 shortfall as of December and that salary reductions—reflecting staff reductions—account for a 19 percent decrease in the salaries line. She said project spending was scaled back (a 34 percent reduction) and work orders from other departments were reduced by about 1 percent, partly because other departments also scaled back charges to DBI.

Commissioners pressed staff for detail on which projects and work orders were affected and discussed efficiency measures, including a memo on a bicycle fleet for inspectors and replacing larger vehicles with smaller, more fuel-efficient models. Day said the department is reviewing leasing charges with the city administrator’s office and has already replaced some fleet vehicles with small Priuses.

After staff remarks and without any public opposition, a commissioner moved to approve the budget and the commission proceeded to a roll-call vote. The motion carried unanimously.

The commission did not specify items that might be restored or revised after the mayor’s office review; Day said she would bring any subsequent changes back to the commission for consideration.