Legislative analysts flag maintenance backlog, procurement and staffing needs in DGS fiscal 2025 review

Samantha Tapia of the Department of Legislative Services told the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that the Department of General Services' fiscal 2025 operating allowance increases by $678,730 — to about $170,000,000 — driven by cost-of-living adjustments, reclassifications and funding for 24 new regular positions, primarily in security and procurement. “The fiscal 2025 budget is an increase of $678,730 or 0.4% over fiscal 2024 to $170,000,000,” Tapia said.

DLS presented a programmatic breakdown showing roughly 78% of the budget tied to facilities operations, maintenance, planning and security, with personnel accounting for about 51% of expenditures. The staffing profile includes 727 regular positions and 41 contractual positions for FY25, with a net increase of 24 regular positions over the previous year; DLS identified 10 new police officers for DGS headquarters and eight procurement officers for the Office of State Procurement as notable additions.

Tapia highlighted several recurring concerns: a rising backlog of maintenance and renovation projects with total estimated costs that have grown (DLS cited a 54% increase in estimated costs since January 2022), inconsistent recording of preventive and unscheduled maintenance work orders in the computerized maintenance management system, and procurement data‑integrity issues amid a 126% jump in procurements in FY23 with a concurrent 36% drop in statewide contracts. The analysis also noted that MBE participation remained below the governor's 29% prime-contract target in FY23, and DLS asked DGS to outline additional outreach and corrective actions.

Secretary Atif Chaudhry, representing DGS, acknowledged the recommendations and told the subcommittee the department concurs. “DGS concurs with both recommendations,” Chaudhry said, referring to DLS’s proposal to restrict funds pending Office of Legislative Audits verification of corrective actions and to require status reports on State Center relocations.

DLS also reviewed energy and efficiency efforts, including a pilot to redirect utility invoices into the state energy database and a lighting‑upgrade project DGS reported would save roughly $1,000,000 and 4,800,000 kilowatt‑hours. Tapia said DLS has asked DGS to provide implementation cost details and to confirm the realized savings.

The presentation included two DLS recommendations: (1) adopt restrictive language that would withhold some funding until Office of Legislative Audits verifies remediation of repeat audit findings in the Office of State Procurement; and (2) require updates in July and December on State Center relocation plans and use of dedicated purpose account funds. Chaudhry said the department would brief the committee on the requested topics and had submitted written responses on eight discussion items.

Two building security officers testified during the hearing that staffing classifications offer no meaningful career ladder and urged policy changes. Kimberly Colbert of AFSCME Local 183 said her job “is not a career opportunity, it's just a job” and asked the subcommittee to act to create promotion pathways. Bridal Austin, a building security officer and member of AFNI local 1535, urged the committee to consider a supervisory pay scale to improve retention and career prospects for security staff.

The chair and members asked follow‑up questions about vacancy‑rate improvements (from 12.3% to 6.5% in the past year, per DLS), the new positions proposed for security and procurement, and how DGS is improving recording and preventive maintenance practices in its eMaint system. DGS agreed to provide further details in follow‑up responses and at future briefings.

The subcommittee did not take a formal vote on any budget language during the session; the hearing record contains DLS’s recommended restrictive language and the department’s concurrence and written responses.