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PT Board and DCA outline budget reductions, vacancies and portal wins
Summary
DCA and PTBC staff described statewide budget letters requiring vacancy savings and budget reductions, PTBC spending and revenue figures for FY 23‑24, staffing vacancies, and the department’s online license portability portal that has fast‑tracked practitioners and been honored at a government innovation summit.
Judy Buccarelli of the Department of Consumer Affairs told the board that the Department of Finance issued budget letters 24‑20 and 24‑24 requiring assumed vacancy savings and a 7.95% reduction in departmental budgets; DCA is preparing reduction plans and working with boards to identify mission‑critical exemptions.
"Work continues to address the state's budget deficit," Buccarelli said as she described the state’s request that departments identify vacancies and savings and submit a proposed plan to Finance. She said DCA is coordinating with boards to minimize impacts on consumer protection functions while complying with statewide reduction targets.
PTBC administrative staff presented the board’s FY figures: the board spent roughly 92% of its FY23‑24 budget (reported around $7.2 million) and closed the year with slightly higher collections than the prior year, attributed largely to increased applications and licensing activity. Staff said the governor’s proposed budget for FY 24‑25 is approximately $7.324 million and that line‑item adjustments will continue through routine budget office processes.
Liz Constancio and Alicia Hernandez (the unit’s budget analyst, now promoted) outlined operational responses to the budget letters: travel and non‑essential training were restricted, asset management and SharePoint migrations proceed, and management will monitor salary savings tied to vacancies. Constancio said the board currently has 29.1 authorized positions and is actively recruiting for several permanent positions.
Staff cautioned the board that filling vacancies increases personnel costs and may require line‑item adjustments in future budget cycles; they said salary savings from vacancies have buffered recent years but that monitoring and GALI (budget adjustment) processes will be necessary to reconcile personnel and operational needs.
CPTA and board members asked for continued outreach to licensees and for attention to how revenue and application timing can cause quarter‑to‑quarter variation in reported receipts. Buccarelli also highlighted Jason Piccione’s innovation award and the federal license portability portal that has facilitated registration for hundreds of practitioners.
