Supervisors OK release of reserves to advance integrated permit tracking project

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to release reserved funds to the Planning Department and the Department of Building Inspection to begin an integrated permit‑tracking and automation upgrade project.

Planning Department staff told the committee the departments have executed an MOU governing the project and asked for about $1.4 million in combined reserves to move forward. “We respectfully request the release of reserve,” Planning staff said, adding the project will improve staff efficiency and public access to services.

The committee’s budget analyst, Mr. Rose, said he supports the project but recommended several technical edits: classify three project positions as limited‑term under charter section 10.104 (category 18), amend the MOU to include budget details and progress reporting, and reduce two salary appropriations to reflect 0.5 FTE rather than 0.77 FTE, returning modest savings to department fund balances.

Planning staff disputed the analyst’s FTE arithmetic, saying the department expects to charge roughly 1.5 FTE against the project this fiscal year and that reducing the current request would increase their ask in the next budget cycle. Staff acknowledged the committee may prefer the controller to hold a questioned line. Supervisor Sean Ellsburn proposed adopting the budget analyst’s recommendations while placing roughly $51,000 on the controller’s reserve so the controller can release it if the department justifies the need.

The committee approved the release with that instruction to the controller. The Planning Department said it may need additional funding later in the multi‑year program; staff estimated total project costs of about $3.8 million over three years, implying roughly $3 million more in subsequent years if contract bids come in higher than current allocations.

The item will move forward to the full Board as recommended.