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Council member inquires about budgeting practices for entitlement programs
1:22:33
·
155 sec
Council Member Diana I. Ayala questions OMB Director Jacques Jiha about the budgeting practices for key entitlement programs, particularly focusing on the issue of under-budgeting and the need for additional funding throughout the fiscal year.
- Ayala highlights the misalignment between adopted budgets and actual year-end expenditures for programs like cash assistance and shelter costs
- Jiha explains that OMB considers various factors in projecting budget needs, including prior year spending, ongoing trends, current caseload, and policy changes
- Discussion on whether OMB anticipates reforming projection techniques to more accurately budget for vital programs
- Jiha emphasizes ongoing communication with agencies to monitor trends and adjust budgets throughout the year
Diana I. Ayala
1:22:33
Over the past several years, DSS has under budgeted for key entitlement programs funded through both DHS and HRA.
1:22:39
There has been a misalignment between the adopted budgets for these programs and the actual year end expenditures for cash assistance, city faps, non asylum seekers shelter costs, and housing.
1:22:50
Considerable amounts of additional funding are typically added throughout the fiscal year to meet the demand for the programs.
1:22:57
During the fiscal year twenty twenty six executive budget hearing for the Committee on General Welfare, DSS informed us that they were working closely with OMB to look at the baseline and project the level of need for these programs.
1:23:13
Can you explain how OMB works with ESS to project the budget needs for crucial entitlement programs and how are actual expenditures in prior fiscal years considered in this analysis and budgeting for future years?
Jacques Jiha
1:23:27
Yeah, we review different factors when we try to analyze the need for these programs.
1:23:35
It's not just prior year spending, we look at the ongoing trend, current caseload, policy changes.
1:23:42
So we look at a number of factors when we make those considerations.
1:23:48
But again, we always in close discussion with the agencies to make sure that to review the needs of the programme on an ongoing basis and keep adding resources as needed.
1:24:03
So we'll continue to do the same thing that we've been doing in the past to make sure that the programs are well funded, appropriately funded.
Louisa Chafee
1:24:12
Okay.
1:24:12
So
Diana I. Ayala
1:24:13
I'm assuming that you're having ongoing conversations
Jacques Jiha
1:24:15
the budgeting
Nantasha M. Williams
1:24:17
matters throughout the Yes.
Diana I. Ayala
1:24:20
Does OMB anticipate reforming the projection techniques to accurately budget for vital programs to match the level of need or is it more of a funding?
Jacques Jiha
1:24:29
Again, I said, we look at different factors and we are in constant communication with the agencies to monitor the trend, to look at their caseload, policy changes that they're implementing, what are the ramifications of policy changes.
1:24:43
So we look at a bunch of factors as we examine, assess these programs.
1:24:48
But more importantly, we're in constant communication with the agencies.
1:24:52
And throughout the year we mark their budget to make sure that they have the resources to address the
Diana I. Ayala
1:24:58
needs that they So you're comfortable then with the current technique that
Nantasha M. Williams
1:25:03
going to be Okay.
Diana I. Ayala
1:25:04
Okay.
1:25:05
Thank you so much.
Jacques Jiha
1:25:06
Thank you.
1:25:07
Okay.