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Committee weighs $1.8M reserve release for DA’s independent investigations unit; analysts recommend holding salary savings in reserve
Summary
The DA requested release of ~$1.8M to staff an Independent Investigations Bureau to handle officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths; the Budget Analyst recommended modest salary-step reductions and reserving ~$355,095 in savings for later review, prompting an agreement to release most funds while reserving recommended savings and tracking staffing outcomes.
The District Attorney’s office asked the Budget & Finance Committee to release approximately $1.8 million in reserve funds to stand up an Independent Investigations Bureau to investigate officer‑involved shootings and in‑custody deaths. DA staff explained the unit would include 14 proposed positions—six attorneys, six investigators and two paralegals—divided into two on-call teams; the office said it would recruit nationally for senior investigative and prosecutorial experience and emphasized the workload includes conviction review work created by new Brady material and other police‑related reviews.
The Budget Analyst, Harvey Rose, recommended reducing the requested amount by roughly $355,095 to reflect conservative salary-step savings and one month of attrition, and he asked the DA to provide documentation on staffing needs and hours during the next budget process. DA leadership said they had not hired any staff yet and expressed concern that step reductions could hinder recruitment for experienced candidates; the DA also said attrition savings might be needed to pay for vehicles, expert witnesses and other start‑up costs. Melissa White House (Mayor’s acting budget director) confirmed the project had been budgeted as a project with some flexibility, but said the Mayor’s Office and budget analysts intended closer oversight during the upcoming budget process.
After extended discussion the committee accepted the budget analyst’s recommendations: release of funds while reserving the recommended salary/step savings pending documentation and follow-up in the next budget cycle. Committee members asked the DA to return with staffing-hour documentation and to report back if hires occur at top steps so reserved amounts can be released as appropriate.
