Q&A
MOERJ's budget for FY2024 and interactions with OMB
0:37:54
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162 sec
Council Member Williams inquires about MOERJ's budget for FY2024, including personnel and OTPS expenses. Deputy Commissioner Negash provides details on the budget and interactions with OMB.
- Personnel budget for FY2024 is $4,300,000
- OTPS budget for FY2024 is about $600,000
- Discusses budget utilization and savings due to the office being established mid-year
- Explains ongoing interactions with OMB to ensure budget needs are met
Nantasha M. Williams
0:37:54
The charter states that the budget appropriation for course expenses during each fiscal year shall be not less than an amount of sufficient to fund personnel service cost for full time and part time personnel necessary to implement the charter mandate requirements for the commission.
0:38:11
What was MERJ's budget for personnel in fy24?
Sideya Sherman
0:38:17
I will turn to deputy commissioner and Nagash.
Dabash Negash
0:38:20
Her FY24 is $4, 300, 000.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:38:24
Was MOERJ able to use all of his resources allocated in the budget for personnel expenses in FY24?
0:38:32
I'm sorry.
Dabash Negash
0:38:33
I'm sorry.
0:38:34
Could you repeat that?
0:38:35
Can hear it.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:38:35
Yeah.
0:38:35
Just wanted to know if you were able to exhaust the $4, 300, 000 this fiscal year.
Dabash Negash
0:38:41
Yes.
0:38:42
So, no, we were not.
0:38:43
We had some savings for the reasons that Commissioner Sherman mentioned, we were standing up the office.
0:38:48
The office was announced in the second quarter of the fiscal year.
0:38:54
And as we were standing up the office and posting jobs, that was happening within the second quarter of the fiscal year as well.
0:39:00
So all of that funding was not exhausted and we had some savings.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:39:03
Okay.
0:39:04
And in reference to your operational budget, what was MOERJ's total funding for OTPS in FY 24?
0:39:11
And was this sufficient to cover necessary supplies, equipment, utilities, and etcetera.
Dabash Negash
0:39:18
Yes.
0:39:18
So for FY 24, it was about 600, 000.
0:39:21
It was enough in that fiscal year.
0:39:23
Again, since we're still standing up the office, there's still a lot that we need to do, but we evaluate our budget on an annual basis.
0:39:31
And, of course, you know, work with our colleagues, if anything else is needed.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:39:35
Okay.
0:39:36
Did M0ERJ ever reach out to OMB to discuss the budget needs?
0:39:40
And if so, could you share a response?
0:39:44
Sure.
Dabash Negash
0:39:45
A response from OMBE.
0:39:46
Like, have you had conversations with them about your budget, fine with your budget?
0:39:51
Could you share any insight around your budget.
0:39:55
Yes.
0:39:55
We work very closely with our colleagues at OMB on establishing the budget.
0:40:02
Back in prior to the start of FY 24 and ensuring that the needs of the office are met.
0:40:09
We consistently work with them, you know, every between fiscal years, right, as well, between the fiscal year the beginning and the start beginning and the end, sorry, of the fiscal year as well, does just ensure that needs are met, and if adjustments need to be that we're connecting with them directly about it.
0:40:24
We also ensure that they're very familiar with our work.
0:40:27
We've briefed the staff on the charter mandates and the work that we aim to do to also ensure the the work that we're doing the direction we're headed is understood.
0:40:36
Thank you.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:40:37
Do you think you have adequate office space for your current staffing levels and projected staffing levels?
