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Council member questions OMB director about Department of Investigation funding
2:57:32
ยท
116 sec
Council Member Gale Brewer inquires about funding for the Department of Investigation (DOI), particularly the use of asset forfeiture funding for operating costs. OMB Director Jacques Jiha responds by detailing recent budget additions and hiring authorizations for DOI.
- Brewer expresses concern about DOI's reliance on asset forfeiture funding for operating costs
- Jiha mentions adding $750,000 in the preliminary budget and authorizing 10 new hires for DOI
- Discussion touches on challenges in hiring and retaining staff due to salary competition
Gale Brewer
2:57:32
Thank you.
2:57:33
The Department of Investigation has been busy recently.
2:57:36
Since adoption, the DOI has been utilizing asset forfeiture funding to cover operating OTPS costs.
2:57:44
This is due to a lack of city tax levy funding for the department.
2:57:48
Asset forfeiture funding, as you know, should be used to enhance the operations of a department, not cover short holes created by the administration.
2:57:57
Will OMB commit to allocating funding to support DOI's operating costs?
2:58:02
And I know that f y twenty five was 62.6, and it's supposed to go to 55,000,000 in 02/06.
2:58:09
So the big difference.
2:58:10
And I know that this department I know what you've often said in the past, when they staff up, everybody's hired, then we can give them more money.
2:58:19
But the problem is it's hard to hire because lawyers are hard to come by.
2:58:24
The dollar's bigger for the salary is lower even than corp counsel, etcetera.
2:58:30
They need money.
2:58:31
Can you please answer that question?
Jacques Jiha
2:58:33
We added about $750,000 in the preliminary budget for DOI and we gave them authorization to hire 10 heads, 10 people, so that they could build up their investigative and support staff.
2:58:50
We work with the agency closely.
2:58:52
They have a lot of vacancies right now also on top of what we already gave them.
2:58:58
And as they hire up, and if there is additional need, we will consider it.
Gale Brewer
2:59:03
Okay.
2:59:04
But I have to point out that sometimes it's hard to hire, so you have to have the opportunity.
2:59:09
They have to pay asset often to do the promotional dollars because people are not gonna stay if they do not have those promotional dollars.
Jacques Jiha
2:59:17
We always work with as I said, I make many exemption for DOR on many occasions, particularly for salary adjustments.
2:59:25
And I will continue to work with them.
Gale Brewer
2:59:27
Okay.