Date: July 10, 2023
To: Members of the Ethics Commission
From: Gayathri Thaikkendiyil, Acting Executive Director
Subject: Agenda Item 4 – Acting Executive Director’s Report for July 2023
Summary and Action Requested
This report provides various programmatic and operational highlights since the last report.
No action is required by the Commission, as this item is for informational purposes only.
Ethics Commission’s FY24 and FY25 Budget Update
On June 14, Staff presented the Ethics Commission’s FY24-FY25 proposed budget at departmental budget hearings of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Appropriation Committee. During the presentation, the Committee discussed the Commission’s budget needs and shared concerns regarding the funding gaps in the Mayor’s proposed budget. Following the presentation, Staff continued to work with the Committee to provide additional information as requested.
On June 28, the Budget and Appropriation Committee held its final deliberations regarding the City’s FY24-FY25 budget and approved a revised budget which was forwarded to the full Board for its action. The Committee’s proposal includes the following recommendations for the Ethics Commission’s budget.
Additional $310,000 in FY24 to fill the following positions:
- 1824 Engagement & Compliance Manager
- 1844 Engagement & Compliance Officer
Additional $1.99 million in FY25 to continue funding the following positions:
- 1824 Engagement & Compliance Manager
- 1824 Ethics@Work Program Manager
- 1823 Training and Outreach Specialist
- 1823 Training and Outreach Specialist
- 1823 Senior Investigator
- 1823 Senior Investigator
- 1230 Training Design Specialist
- 1043 IS Engineer
- 1844 Engagement & Compliance Officer
- 1840 Form 700 Client Support Specialist
The Board of Supervisors will consider the proposed budget this month starting July 11 and forward it to the Mayor for her signature by July 31. Staff will continue to follow up on the budget approval process in the coming weeks and provide an update regarding the City’s final adopted budget in the next meeting.
The Commission’s budget proposals and related documents are available on the budget page.
Legislation Proposed Prohibiting Employment of City Officials by Departmental Contractors
Supervisor Safai has introduced legislation (File #230484) that would amend the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to prohibit City officers and employees from being employed by or receiving compensation from entities that contract with their departments. Staff have been working with Supervisor Safai’s office on this legislation since it was first introduced in April and a revised version of the legislation was introduced last month. Approval of this legislation would require a four-fifths majority vote by the Ethics Commission. This item will be added to the agenda of an upcoming meeting for consideration by the Commission.
FY23 Year-End Revenues Report
| Account Description | Budget | Actuals |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign Consultant Registration Fee | $7,000 | $7,700 |
| Lobbyist Registration Fee | $85,000 | $126,000 |
| Campaign Consultant Fines | $2,000 | $50 |
| Campaign Disclosure Fines | $50,000 | $7,533 |
| Statement of Economic Interests Fines | $1,250 | $0 |
| Lobbyists Fines | $2,000 | $3,500 |
| Other Ethics Fines | $7,500 | $97,233 |
| Other General Government Charges | $2,450 | $0 |
| Total | $157,200 | $242,016 |