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Q&A
Council member Brewer questions OMB director about Department of Investigation funding
2:21:38
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138 sec
Council Member Gale A. Brewer inquires about the lack of additional funding for the Department of Investigation (DOI) in the executive budget, despite the council's request for $3 million to hire new personnel and cover existing vacancies. Director Jacques Jiha explains that they have been working with DOI, providing some funding and salary adjustments, and are continuing to work with them to ensure they have necessary resources.
- Brewer emphasizes the importance of DOI's oversight role and the need for proper funding
- Jiha mentions providing $750,000 for hiring 10 new staff members and making salary adjustments
- Brewer indicates she will continue to push for more funding for DOI
Gale A. Brewer
2:21:38
My first question is about Department of Investigation.
2:21:41
In our preliminary response, the council requested that the executive include an additional 3,000,000 in baseline for DOI to hire 13 additional personnel and cover a shortfall of their funding for 22 existing vacancies.
2:21:57
The funding was not in the exec, and why was it not provided in light of DOI's mandated responsibilities?
2:22:04
And they'll will there be additional funding in the adopted plan?
2:22:07
I know sometimes you say because they haven't filled their positions.
2:22:11
I just I know I can almost give you the answer.
2:22:14
However, it's my feeling strongly that they are working hard to fill those positions.
2:22:19
They need the extra funding because of all of the extra opportunities, that's the if that's the right word, to, make sure there's no fraud and other improprieties in our, administration.
2:22:32
And the thing is, if they don't have the funding, then they don't have the ability to do the extra hiring that would enable them to do the oversight.
Jacques Jiha
2:22:40
Yeah.
2:22:40
And I understand your concern.
2:22:43
And we we've been working with them.
2:22:48
In the preliminary plan, we gave them about $750,000 so they could hire 10 folks so they could build their investigative staff and support staff.
2:23:02
In addition, we made some salary adjustments for them to assist them, to help them with retention of a certain position.
2:23:11
We are currently working with them, and I believe we just approved some pause for them, okay, and that would be reflected at adoption.
2:23:26
But we're working with them on a day to day basis to make sure that they have the resources that they need to take advantage of the opportunities like we worded that is open to them.
Gale A. Brewer
2:23:41
Okay.
2:23:42
I I would say we'll keep pushing on that issue.
2:23:44
Because they've been using some of their assets, forfeiture money, is not what it's supposed to be used for.
Jacques Jiha
2:23:49
Yeah.
2:23:49
But we as I said, we we're working with them, and I believe last week we provided them some approval.
Gale A. Brewer
2:23:55
Okay.
2:23:55
We'll keep pushing.
2:23:56
Yep.