Commissioner advocates for DOI budget independence and charter reform

Today's testimony underscores the significance that budgetary independence would have on DOI.

In fact, DOI advocated for this reform, among others, before the City Commission to Strengthen Local Democracy, which compiled a host of prospective charter revisions, including budgetary independence for DOI.

DOI plans to submit the same proposal to the Mayor's Committee on Government Efficiency, which was just announced last week.

Funding DOI at an appropriate percentage of the city budget and giving DOI control over its hiring, for example, would safeguard DOI's independence and reinforce the city's commitment to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Budget independence would reduce the risk of politically motivated retaliation against DOI or the appearance of such retaliation by reducing our funding.

And it would finally provide DOI with the financial resources to fully oversee a city with a $124.7 billion budget, more than 300,000 employees, and billions of dollars in capital construction.

In the meantime, DOI requests the city restore $6 million to its budget in order to maintain the agency's core operations and $4 million spread over two fiscal years to fund the World Trade Center investigation.

I want to thank the Mayor's Chief Counsel and the OMB Budget Director for hearing and understanding my concerns, and I am very thankful, as well as hopeful,

that additional funding to stabilize DOI's ability to conduct its vital oversight mandate is under active discussion and consideration at City Hall.

I also want to thank council members for your focus on DOI's budget and for providing me the opportunity to walk you through the numbers.

I'm happy to answer any questions.