Week Three of fiscal year 2024’s budget hearings will feature some significant departments, including the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities.
Managing Director
The Managing Director’s office handles the day-to-day operations of the city, overseeing multiple areas of government, including the Police and Fire Departments, Public Safety, Health and Human Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
Behavioral Health
The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities handles the areas of mental health, addiction, and children’s services. This department has one of the largest budgets of any city agency, with a request of $1.78 billion in fiscal year 2024. However, only $27 million of that comes from the city’s General Fund; the bulk of the funding comes from grants, federal and state funding, and other sources.
Police Department
Often one of the most scrutinized city departments, the Police Department fiscal year 2024 budget is slated to be $914 million, with $855 million coming from the General Fund.
Public Health
The Public Health Department has also faced its share of scrutiny in the last few years, not all of which is related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The former director, Dr. Thomas Farely, who guided the city through the pandemic, resigned his office after it was found he had directed staff to dispose of the remains of victims of the 1985 MOVE bombing. The department’s 2024 proposed budget is $168 million.
Office of Homeless Services
This office coordinates the city’s efforts to combat homelessness throughout the city. Hall Monitor recently conducted an interview with Liz Hersh, the director of Homeless Services about new initiatives in the fiscal year 2024 budget. This included the implementation of the city’s first tiny home village. OHS’s budget request for 2024 from the General Fund is $78.4 million.
Chief Administrative Officer
Overseeing seven administrative offices, the CAO “works to modernize city government and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of City services.” The seven offices reporting to the CAO are the Department of Records, Human Resources and Talent, the Office of Administrative Review, the Office of Innovation and Technology, Procurement Department, PHL Service Design Studio, and Strategic Transformation. The CAO is requesting $17 million from the General Fund in fiscal year 2024.
Office of Procurement
The Office of Procurement handles the purchasing for the city, and also awards city contracts. They are requesting just over $7 million in fiscal year 2024.
Office of Human Resources
Much like the Human Resources department in other public and private institutions, the Philadelphia Office of Human Resources helps the city find workers and fill various positions. The are requesting $9.7 million in General Fund dollars in fiscal year 2024.
Office of Innovation and Technology
OIT is the technology arm of local government. The usage and placement of surveillance cameras, which, in some cases, fall under the purview of OIT, could be a topic of discussion during their hearing. OIT is asking for almost $127 million in their fiscal year 2024 budget.
Planning and Development
The Office of Planning and Development oversees the following agencies: Philadelphia Art Commission, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Division of Development Services,
Division of Housing and Community Development, Philadelphia Historical Commission, and the
Zoning Board of Adjustment. Their fiscal year 2024 budget request is nearly $32 million.
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