DBI reports lower FY22 revenue than budget, previews FY23 budget and $267M in September major‑project filings

In a financial update to the Building Inspection Commission on Oct. 19, DBI’s new Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, Alex Koskinen, presented the department’s FY22 results and the first look at the FY23 budget.

Koskinen said fiscal year 2022 closed with $80.3 million in actual revenue against an $88.5 million budget and $80.7 million in expenditures versus a $92.1 million budget. For the current fiscal year he said the FY23 revenue and expenditure plan is $85.9 million. Year‑to‑date revenue was $11.6 million, “a $1.8 million decrease from the same period last year,” Koskinen said. He also noted the department has issued 5,109 permits so far in the reporting period — about 16% fewer than the same period last year.

DBI’s major‑projects update showed five permit applications filed in September 2022 with an estimated construction valuation of $267 million and an anticipated 933 housing units. The presentation named a planned 50 Main Street project with 808 units, of which the presenter said 188 would be affordable, and an application for 160 Fremont Street described in the packet as 85 100% affordable units.

Koskinen and commissioners discussed the department’s charges for services provided by other City offices (a $20.5 million roll‑up in the packet) and the effect of right‑sizing interdepartmental work orders in the budget. Koskinen said further details are available in packet materials and that staff would follow up on comparative year‑over‑year metrics when requested by commissioners.

DBI welcomed Koskinen as the new Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, who joined DBI Oct. 17, and he answered questions about workload distribution and permit‑center cost allocations.