St. Paul reviews DSI budget with focus on staffing challenges
The St. Paul City Council's Finance and Budget Committee heard a presentation on the Department of Safety and Inspections' 2027 budget on August 27, with no formal vote taken. Director IA Jang outlined the department's financial strategy while council members raised concerns about staffing levels and the impact of recent technology changes.
Director Jang presented DSI's 2027 budget proposal, which relies heavily on non-general funds including opioid settlement money and recycling fees to maintain current operations. The department plans to use strategic vacancies and existing revenue sources to balance the budget while accounting for inflation and healthcare cost increases.
A major focus of the discussion was the Poly system, new software that has dramatically improved permit processing. Since its implementation, 99% of permits are now submitted online—up from 55% previously—and the system has processed $2.84 million in online payments. However, challenges remain: data migration issues and a previous cyber attack have created invoicing problems that are expected to delay $1.8 million in recovered revenue from 2025.
Council members pressed Jang on several staffing concerns. Council Member Kim asked whether DSI is coordinating with other city departments to share information through Poly, noting that police and other agencies' notes could improve automated permit approvals. Council Member Coleman questioned why the Fire Safety Inspector 2 position has high turnover, asking whether uncompetitive pay and lack of city vehicles are factors. Jang acknowledged a slow ramp-up in the tenant protections program and proposed reducing two positions in that area, though he said no layoffs would result.
The presentation also covered the Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART), which will continue to be funded through opioid settlement money. The five-person team handles outreach and connects unsheltered individuals to resources. Additionally, DSI is overseeing a $6.8 million project to replace the city's 50-year-old animal shelter by repurposing a Parks Department building.
Vice Chair Yang expressed the council's central dilemma: balancing tight budget constraints with the need for crucial investments in public safety and services. The presentation served as an informational briefing with no formal vote, allowing the committee to gather details before making budget decisions.
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Votes (1)
Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) 2027 Budget Presentation
Director IA Jang presented DSI's 2027 budget proposal, covering financial strategies, recent initiatives like the Poly system and the animal shelter project, and proposed staffing adjustments for programs like tenant protections. Key discussions included the impact of the Poly system on efficiency and invoicing, the rationale for reducing some FTEs due to slow program ramp-up or high turnover, and the allocation of funds from sources like opioid settlements for the HART team. Council members raised questions regarding inter-departmental data integration with Poly, the fate of the old animal shelter building, the specific impacts of staffing reductions, reasons for high turnover in inspector roles, and the accounting treatment of recovered revenue. The presentation concluded without a formal vote or motion, serving as an informational briefing for the Finance and Budget Committee.
Notable Quotes (8)
For 2027, our budget proposal focuses on um continuing the utilization of non-general funds, specifically the opioid uh settlement fund and the recycling and solid waste fund, which we'll go into later. Also, um and then maintaining our current revenue sources and the strategic utilization of vacancies for our 2026 budget recap.
What we've seen so far, I just put some highlights here, was seeing about 99% of permits u being submitted online versus pre-poly was 55%. Um we also [clears throat] saw 2.84 million in online payments processed in the first year and uh earlier this year we migrated 4 million records from the old system onto the new.
I'm wondering around sort of the uh ways that you because because so much of what Poly is being automated. What are the ways that you're working with other departments to uh to like compare notes and upload notes from other departments to the poly system? I've come across a few things just recently where you know notes from maybe SPD or from other departments would be useful in in the consideration of sort of those automated uh automated um approvals.
what we have seen so far is really a slow ramp up of the program if if any at all really at this point. It's more about the outreach and the education piece of it. Um what uh the positions that we are seeing uh we're proposing to reduce um can be uh one of them is a customer service rep which can if we should see uh any ramp up of um services needed um we can uh utilize other customer service reps.
I'm curious about um the DSI fire safety inspector 2 rule where it's specifically called out that there's frequent turnover. Wondering if you could share more about why we see that turnover and if there are changes that might be being considered to prevent turnover and thus budget implications.
And so to me, it it I it just like I um I feel very torn because I understand we're in um a very always in a very difficult situation with the budget and how to fill that gap and at the same time these are very important investments that we have a huge stake in when it comes to the future of our city.
my understanding is that depending on the timing, it gets acred back to 2025. Um so then it it like given that we're closing 2025 and that's done, um no more spending happening in 2025, it will just fall to the city's fund balance. So it will, um support that, but does not get sort of reprogrammed or added into the 2026 um budget.
the, um opioid settlement funds are, uh, funding five positions, um, for the heart, and that includes outreach, um, and code enforcement, and I can't, uh, remember the other positions, but uh, this pos these um, this team has been intact. uh they do the outreach, they do um the connection uh of the um unsheltered to resources.
Ordinances & Resolutions (12)
A non-general fund used to support DSI's budget proposal and specifically funds five positions for the HART team.
A non-general fund contributing $100,000 to DSI's budget for trash collection and recycling services.
A one-time fund of $380,000 transferred to support tenant protections work, including staffing and materials.
A new citywide software system implemented by DSI to replace legacy programs, improving online permit submissions and payment processing, funded by ARPA.
Funding source for the project management contract supporting the Poly implementation.
Budgeting source for the approximately $6.8 million animal services shelter project.
A program focused on education, assistance, and outreach for tenants, with enforcement developing through administrative citations.
A policy related to the work of the DSI staff focused on tenant protections.
A tool to be used for enforcement within the tenant protections program.
Expected revenue source to cover DSI's FTE costs related to cannabis regulation.
A city internship program for youth, inspiring Rashana and Caitlyn's involvement in local government.
A commission board on which Caitlyn Hang served for term two.
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Other Topics from This Document
Poly System Implementation and Impact
Tenant Protections Program Staffing Adjustments
Staffing Levels and Customer Service in DSI
DSI Revenue and Financial Management
Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) Funding and Operations
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