Department of Streets and Sanitation – BGA Policy 2024 Budget Snapshot

Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget

Departmental Highlights

• The proposed 2024 budget increases DSS’s total appropriations by 10.7%, a much steeper increase than the department’s historic average and the overall city budget increase of 1.3%.
• Overall departmental headcount is up a net 18 positions. In addition to title/level changes and reclassifications, the 2024 budget adds seven motor truck driver positions and seven tree trimmers, as well as two forestry supervisors, increasing the city’s tree services fleet. 
• The Bureau of Forestry added a net 13 positions and the Bureau of Rodent Control four, with one additional position budgeted for the commissioner’s office. The Bureau of Street Operations lost four positions, while all other divisions remained unchanged from the previous year’s budget.
• DSS’s budget is predominantly personnel-related, with $186.3 million in wages and salaries the largest appropriation by far, and an additional $12.2 million appropriated for overtime and $2.7 million for prevailing rate contract wages.
• DSS’s largest non-personnel appropriations are $58.4 million for waste disposal services and $50.9 million for professional and technical services.
• DSS’s largest non-personnel increases over the previous year’s budget are in professional and technical services (outside contracting), rental and equipment services, and waste disposal services. 

Historical Context

The Department of Streets and Sanitation budget stayed relatively flat during both of Rahm Emanuel’s terms (following a roughly 270-position staffing reduction in his first budget). Appropriations began increasing sharply during Lori Lightfoot’s administration, accompanied by smaller but steady increases in budgeted positions. 

From 2011-2023, the department budget grew at an average rate of 2.3% per year. Departmental budgets overall increased an average of 5.9% per year over the same time period, while the total city budget including Finance General appropriations grew at an average rate of 8.2% annually.

The department’s budgeted workforce grew at a rate of roughly -0.9% annually from 2011-2023. Overall budgeted positions for the city remained relatively flat across the same time period, with minor year-to-year fluctuations averaging out to an overall growth rate of -0.04%.

The proposed 2024 budget increases DSS’s total appropriations by 10.7%, a much steeper increase than the department’s historic average and the overall city budget increase of 1.3%. The proposed budget adds 18 positions, a 0.8% increase roughly in keeping with the overall workforce increase of 0.85%.  

Staffing

Overall departmental headcount is up a net 18 positions. In addition to title/level changes and reclassifications, the 2024 budget adds seven motor truck driver positions and seven tree trimmers, as well as two forestry supervisors, increasing the city’s tree services fleet. 

The Bureau of Forestry added a net 13 positions and the Bureau of Rodent Control four, with one additional position budgeted for the commissioner’s office. The Bureau of Street Operations lost four positions, while all other divisions remained unchanged from the previous year’s budget.

Appropriations

Largest Appropriations

DSS’s budget is predominantly personnel-related, with $186.3 million in wages and salaries the largest appropriation by far, and an additional $12.2 million appropriated for overtime and $2.7 million for prevailing rate contract wages. 

DSS’s largest non-personnel appropriations are $58.4 million for waste disposal services and $50.9 million for professional and technical services. 

Change from Previous Year

DSS’s largest non-personnel increases over the previous year’s budget are in professional and technical services (outside contracting), rental and equipment services, and waste disposal services. 

www.bettergov.org

https://www.bettergov.org/2023/10/19/department-of-streets-and-sanitation-bga-policy-2024-budget-snapshot/