Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Department Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Department presents flatlining revenue, no new positions in FY17–19 budget
Summary
Planning Department staff told the commission that revenues have plateaued after several high years; the department proposes a FY2017–19 budget based on current‑year actuals, no new positions (mayoral direction), modest reductions in contracts and materials, and an emphasis on grant pursuit and repurposing vacancies.
Planning Director John Raham and Finance Manager Deborah Landis presented the Planning Department’s proposed FY2017–19 budget on Feb. 2, telling the Planning Commission that the department has hit a revenue plateau after recent record years.
Raham said the department is seeing no new revenue growth for the first time in about six years and that the mayor’s budget direction prohibits adding new authorized positions. Landis said the department plans next year’s budget assuming revenue will mirror current‑year actuals and is proposing a two‑year rolling budget with about $47.9 million in anticipated revenues, primarily from charges for services.
Key points in staff’s presentation: - Revenue: staff projected next‑year revenue to be on par with current actuals while incorporating a CPI adjustment to fees. They identified a shortfall of roughly $3.2 million in current‑year actuals against original budgeted projections and said non‑personnel contract spending would be reduced to match revenue. - Staffing: the department is not requesting net new positions and plans to repurpose existing vacancies for priority tasks (for example, a position to support development agreement work and added PIC staff). The budget includes the annualization of recently hired positions but assumes some vacancies. - Grants and one‑time funding: staff expect to pursue about $1.5 million in potential grant funding next year and noted several targeted grant sources (priority development area funds, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation grants, Rudy Bruner/Urban Excellence funds, and others).
Commissioners asked for clearer performance metrics and a stronger link between the work program initiatives and the budget lines. Commissioner Johnson requested more explicit goals and metrics that explain what the department expects to achieve with proposed line items and staffing; staff agreed to provide performance measures at a future hearing. Several commissioners and public speakers urged greater investment in neighborhood planning and updates to the General Plan/land‑use elements.
The budget presentation is informational; staff said they will return with any requested refinements before submission to the mayor’s office on Feb. 21.
