Department of Planning and Development – BGA Policy 2024 Budget Snapshot
Department – BGA Policy 2024 Budget Snapshot
Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget
2023 Budgeted2024 ProposedNet ChangePercent ChangeAppropriations$208,372,201$196,279,654-$12,092,547-5.8%Positions & FTEs19120094.7% Departmental Highlights As in the previous two years’ budgets, DPD’s proposed 2024 budget includes significant levels of federal pandemic relief funding. DPD’s appropriates $61.3m from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund in the 2024 proposal, down from $71m in 2023. The majority of DPD’s 2024 proposed budget, about 71% of all DPD appropriations, goes towards rehabilitation grants and loans. DPD appropriates $139.4m for rehab grants in the proposed budget, with the Department of Housing appropriating another $139.3m. Rehab grants are funded from a number of sources: $55.3m from the Neighborhoods Opportunity Fund, $35m from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, $26m from the Build Illinois Bond Fund, $12.3m from the Local Impact Fund, and $10.8m from the Citywide Adopt-a-landmark Fund. Apart from the rehabilitation grants, DPD’s biggest non-staff expenditures are pass-through spending for delegate agencies ($17.3m) and outside contracting from the professional and technical services appropriation ($14.3m). Overall DPD headcount is up a net nine positions, with the largest increases coming from six additional city planner positions and four additional economic development coordinator positions. Historical Context
Rahm Emanuel replaced the then-Department of Housing with the Department of Planning and Development in the 2014 budget, at a lower rate of funding than its predecessor. (Housing had $191.7m in appropriations in the 2013 budget; DPD began its existence in the 2014 budget with $153.8m.)
The Department of Housing returned to city budgets in the 2019 budget and resumed operating as an independent office under Lori Lightfoot’s administration. In the 2019 budget, DPD’s budget dropped from $189.2m the previous year to $35.1m, while the newly-returned DoH received $148.4m.
DPD then saw significant budget increases in the pandemic-era budgets, more than doubling its post-split appropriation. DPD’s budget included $73m in American Rescue Plan funds in 2022 and $71m in 2023. In the 2024 budget proposal, DPD appropriates $61.3 million from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Staffing
Overall DPD headcount is up a net nine positions, with the largest increases coming from six additional city planner positions and four additional economic development coordinator positions. The department also appears to be taking more IT services in-house with new Director of Information Systems and Senior Help Desk Technician positions.
Appropriations Largest Appropriations
The majority of DPD’s 2024 proposed budget, about 71% of all DPD appropriations, goes towards rehabilitation grants and loans.
Rehab grants are funded from a number of sources: $55.3m from the Neighborhoods Opportunity Fund, $35m from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, $26m from the Build Illinois Bond Fund, $12.3m from the Local Impact Fund, and $10.8m from the Citywide Adopt-a-landmark Fund.
Apart from the rehabilitation grants, DPD’s biggest non-staff expenditures are pass-through spending for delegate agencies ($17.3m) and outside contracting from the professional and technical services appropriation ($14.3m).
Change from Previous Year
Rehabilitation grants and loans, the department’s largest appropriation by far, is up 22.3% from the previous year’s budget.
Delegate agency pass-through spending was up slightly from the previous year, but outside contracting under the professional and technical services appropriation was down much more significantly – about $39.4m lower than the previous year’s appropriation, about a 73.4% cut.
