QUESTION
Why has the administration not prioritized funding for oversight agencies, and will it restore funding cuts?
2:09:30
·
176 sec
The Budget Director states that significant investments have been made in oversight agencies, but acknowledges resource challenges and differing perspectives on adequacy.
- Budget Director highlights significant investments made in Department of Investigation (DOI) for specific projects.
- There's an acknowledgment of savings contributions requested from agencies amidst challenges.
- The administration believes it has provided necessary funding for the Board of Correction and other oversight bodies to meet their mandates.
- Council Member Gale Brewer insists more funding is necessary for the traditional functions of these agencies, suggesting further discussion.
Gale Brewer
2:09:30
DOE investigators, I'm very supportive of the DOE.
2:09:34
I think that this investigation department, as you know, provides necessary oversight to ensure that agencies are functioning properly.
2:09:43
It seems that oversight isn't a priority fund by this administration in some cases.
2:09:47
And this is also I wanna make sure that Department of Correction also has a board of correction fully funded.
2:09:54
Both of these agencies need to be fully funded.
2:09:58
So why has in the administration prioritized funding oversight agencies with adequate staff and salaries?
2:10:05
And do you plan to restore cuts and improve new needs per DOI in the executive plan.
2:10:10
And the reason I understand is we are always told that if the agency is fully staffed, then they can get more money to meet their new needs.
2:10:20
Let me tell you the problem.
2:10:22
You can never be fully staffed.
2:10:24
Gail Brewer leaves to go for another job.
2:10:26
In the middle of whatever.
2:10:28
It's not necessarily easier to hire another attorney because all the reasons that you know.
2:10:33
Police staff is not the right word.
2:10:36
What is the right word in my opinion is making sure these agencies can do oversight.
2:10:41
So how do you answer my question?
2:10:42
Thank you.
Jacques Jiha
2:10:44
DOI is our highs and years on the ground.
2:10:49
And as a result, we have made significant investment.
2:10:54
To Jira.
2:10:55
In the last 2 years, we have provided them with significant resources to monitor the BPGA's program, to monitor this Alamcica spending that we're doing.
2:11:06
Okay?
2:11:06
And I've had many discussion with the agency head of the commissioner.
2:11:11
Okay?
2:11:12
In terms of her needs.
2:11:14
Okay?
2:11:15
However, given the challenges that we're dealing with, we ask or agency to contribute savings, but we have been working with UI to provide them the resources that they need either to promote folks auto hire people.
2:11:27
Okay.
2:11:28
And then as I said, quite importantly, we provided them with sources, okay, for 2 major projects because I believe
Gale Brewer
2:11:36
I'm always we
Jacques Jiha
2:11:36
need eyes on a gun to ensure that the boob is spending and the asylum seekers spending is probably are probably monitored.
Gale Brewer
2:11:44
Okay.
2:11:45
I I believe they need more.
2:11:46
We should have further discussions.
2:11:48
They're not fully funded for the regular work that they do.
2:11:50
I know what the two projects sorry.
2:11:52
We appreciate that.
2:11:53
How about the board of correction?
2:11:55
They are not fully funded.
Jacques Jiha
2:11:57
The board of
Gale Brewer
2:11:57
Board of correction.
2:11:58
Right?
2:11:58
Alright.
2:11:59
Overside, another oversight agency.
Jacques Jiha
2:12:02
We, again, as I said, I believe we we have given them the funding that's necessary.
2:12:11
For them to conduct their operations.
2:12:13
As I said, it's a question of different people have different ways of looking at resources, from our perspective, they have all the resources that they need to to meet their mandates.
2:12:26
Okay.