Q&A
Discussion on DOB staffing reductions and budget cuts
2:45:26
·
4 min
Council Member Sanchez inquires about the reduction of 577 positions at the Department of Buildings since fiscal 2022, including cuts of 137 positions in fiscal 2024 and 90 positions in fiscal 2025. Commissioner Oddo explains the difficult fiscal climate and the agency's approach to meeting budget reduction targets.
- DOB faced three 5% budget reduction targets (PEGs)
- The agency chose to cut vacant positions to minimize impact on services
- Cuts included inspectors, technical staff, administrative, and clerical positions
- DOB is in ongoing conversations with OMB for potential help and has support from Deputy Mayor Joshi
Pierina Ana Sanchez
2:45:26
Thank you.
2:45:26
Thank you so much, commissioner.
2:45:28
And a special shout out to assistant commissioner McCartan he would probably be upset if I didn't name him.
2:45:34
He's he's been really great.
2:45:36
Okay.
2:45:37
So I'm I'm just gonna ask one set of questions, and then I'm going to turn it over to colleagues just in case they might not be able to stay.
2:45:45
But this in particular is is with respect to my highlighting 577 positions not being at the agency anymore.
2:45:53
Vacancy reduction of 577 positions since fiscal 22.
2:45:58
So the major action in the preliminary plan cuts DLB staff by a 137 positions in fiscal 24.
2:46:05
90 positions in fiscal 2025 in the out years.
2:46:09
And is this is the latest move in a pattern of vacancy reductions that by next year will have removed 570 7 positions since fiscal 2022.
2:46:18
Considering how inspectors play a critical role in the safety and revenue generation of the agency and the city of New York, why didn't OMB allow DOB to maintain its inspectorial head count and provide funding to fill those positions in the preliminary plan.
2:46:33
1.
2:46:34
2, given the reversal of the executive peg, is DOB requesting a staffing staffing restoration to better fulfill its critical public safety roles?
2:46:43
And 3, can you provide a breakdown of the titles removed in the 577 positions reduced in fiscal 22?
Jimmy Oddo
2:46:51
Yep.
2:46:51
So, obviously, difficult fiscal climate for all of us particularly difficult for a new commission to come in within a few months to be told you staring at 3 pegs, 5% 5% 5%.
2:47:09
And like other agencies, we sought a path that had the least impact to the agency.
2:47:20
I know you and this committee in the past I have voiced your concerns about the high vacancy rate.
2:47:28
I watched previous hearings from before I was a commissioner, and I know that was important.
2:47:35
This is not how we envisioned reducing those numbers.
2:47:40
So in November, we in the November plan, we took down close to $10,000,000, a 117 positions, 47 inspector positions, 28 technical staff, 30 administrative and 12 clerical.
2:47:59
In January, it was a $9,400,000 peg 90 positions, 28 inspectorial, 13 technical, 27 administrative, and and 12 clerical.
2:48:14
To your question about why those.
2:48:18
Again, it was the pathway that was least harmful for the agency.
2:48:24
Those were vacancies that we had not filled.
2:48:28
As you know, and the committee knows This agency has a difficult time despite its best efforts retaining and attracting and meeting that peg via those vacancies put us in the best position to continue to deliver the services we need.
2:48:54
Those cuts, so those cuts are not withstanding.
2:48:58
Again, if you look at our service levels across the board, they're still excellent relative certainly to the last 5 years.
2:49:09
They they are even the ones that have regressed, and we have seen some regression in the 1st 4 months of this fiscal year.
2:49:18
We monitor it very closely.
2:49:21
But the the the reductions as painful as they were were the least impactful.
2:49:28
To your question about seeking help from OMB, Absolutely.
2:49:35
Those conversations with OMB are ongoing.
2:49:40
I will say that As you know, I worked for deputy mayor Joshi for 16 months as her chief of staff.
2:49:47
She is now my deputy mayor.
2:49:49
She's a wonderful ally as well, and she is intimately familiar with this agency, where we are, what we wanna do, where we need to go, and she's been a strong ally for all of her agencies.