QUESTION
How does the allocated funding to asylum seeker services adjust to reductions due to updated population projections and maintain service levels?
0:21:22
·
150 sec
City officials explain cost reduction strategies for asylum seeker services without affecting service quality despite budget changes.
- Mitch Katz states that working with agencies and OMB has led to cost reductions by using nonprofits and competitive RFPs.
- Competitive pricing and reduced cost assumptions have allowed maintaining service levels while lowering expenses for the city.
- Initial projections of increasing asylum seeker numbers have been lowered, contributing to budget savings.
- John Ulberg clarifies that the financial adjustments were anticipated as part of the budget planning, aiming for efficiency and saving $1 billion in FY25.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:21:22
In the fiscal 2025 preliminary plan, HNH received a peg of over $1,000,000,000 to a salem's Secret Service How does this peg amount determine with the reduction in funding for asylum seekers due to updated population projections.
0:21:41
Are there going to be changes in the services in services delivered?
0:21:46
And with the population projection shifting, will the number of contracts be modified, listened, If so, what were I mean, for what services I think some of them you answered, but you can clarify.
Mitch Katz
0:21:59
Sure.
0:22:00
The we've been working, I think, very productively with our sister agencies and ONB on how do we reduce the costs so that it does not impact other city services and still provide the services that asylum seekers need.
0:22:18
And I think the formulas that we have found are that we can now through the use of nonprofits, through the use of RFPs to get more competitive prices, now that we can have a predictable amount, know what we're looking for.
0:22:35
We've been able to drive down prices.
0:22:37
So people are getting the same services, but the city is paying the less for those services.
0:22:44
And also the initial projections assume that the number of asylum seekers was going to keep growing, and that does not seem to be true.
0:22:52
And that that that's enabled the dollar amount to decrease as well.
Mercedes Narcisse
0:22:56
Yeah.
0:22:57
I'm praying for a decrease too.
0:22:59
The number plan included an additional 2,600,000,000 for Salem Secure Services.
0:23:05
When this amount was added to H and H's budget, did you anticipate reducing 1,000,000,000 short e after?
John Ulberg
0:23:12
Yes.
0:23:13
I I would say the the 1 the the $2,600,000,000 is the FY 24 and FY 25 numbers, which is noted in the report.
0:23:23
The $1,000,000,000 in savings is really the amount for FY 25.
0:23:28
And I guess the best way to look at is that without those reductions, the program would have grown by another 1,000,000,000.
0:23:35
So we did anticipate, right, that we were going to have to find savings as part of the budget process.
0:23:44
So as Mitch just said, We believe those are all good numbers for the year, and we'll have to track it as the year goes on.