Facilities director Dan LeCraft seeks 3.54% FY27 operational increase, highlights preservation and energy program

Dan LeCraft, director of facilities, told the FY27 budget session the Facilities Management department is asking for a 3.54% increase in its operational budget to cover contractual costs and to absorb newly acquired building space. "We are asking for a 3.54% increase in our operational budget for fiscal year '27," LeCraft said, noting the ask includes six replacement vehicles but no new FTEs.

LeCraft said the county will add about 100,000 square feet of conditioned space to the county portfolio next year — roughly a 4.3% growth in maintained building area — and that Facilities will assume maintenance for the new space while only being responsible for paying about 25% of the additional utility bills. "Out of that 100,000 square feet about a quarter of that actually is within facilities management as it relates to paying actually paying the utility bill," he said.

Lisa Pellegrini, assistant director of administration, described the county's preservation program, now in its third year and organized around five categories including HVAC, building exterior, interiors, electrical/life safety and plumbing. "Preservation funding really focuses on preserving our assets, which over time decreases our annual operating building maintenance budget," Pellegrini said. For FY27 the county proposes a preservation funding level of $4,650,000 and a modest reallocation that reduces HVAC/exterior pathways funding to add resources for building-interior work and fire-renovation projects.

Justin, the department business manager, summarized line items and department totals: services are increasing roughly 4.3%, utilities are budgeted at a 2.74% increase, the department's FY27 ask totals $25,375,931 and preservation funding is level-funded relative to the current plan. "Our ask for this year is going to be 25,375,931 across the department, which again is about a 3.54% increase," Justin said.

LeCraft and staff pointed to the countywide energy-management policy (piloted in 2025 and expanded in FY26) as a tool to moderate utility-cost pressures. The team said the program is tracking about 8% energy savings against a five-year 5% reduction target and that the conservation measures and centralization of trades have reduced lifecycle and maintenance demand. "Right now we are tracking by around 8% on on that," LeCraft said of conservation performance.

The Facilities presentation closed with staff noting no new positions are requested and that a planned CMMS/work-order system in FY27 should improve lifecycle-cost tracking. Departments flagged that while preservation and energy conservation should be prioritized, final budget decisions will be made during the recommended-budget review once constitutional-officer submissions and final property valuations are available.