Department of Driver Services requests targeted increases for staffing, security and card production in amended FY‑26 budget

The Department of Driver Services asked the Senate subcommittee on appropriations — transportation for targeted increases in the amended FY‑26 budget to cover salary supplements, higher card production and security costs. The agency presented performance gains — an average wait time of "6 minutes 10" and 99% of customers served within 30 minutes — but said increased volumes and unbudgeted headcount growth require additional funding.

DDS said it is requesting $114,000 (line 118.1) to cover one‑time salary supplements in a program, and $150,000 (line 118.2) to meet federal mandate costs tied to CDL and commercial licensing systems, including notifications and mailings required by FMCSA programs such as the National Registry ("NR2") and the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. "The dollars are going to... notifications," the DDS presenter said when asked what the federal‑mandate funding would pay for.

For license issuance, DDS requested $1,700,000 (line 119.1) for one‑time salary supplements in that program and $1,300,000 (line 119.2) to handle increased transaction volume. The agency said increased staffing and higher card production are the main drivers: it reported producing roughly 1,500,000 additional cards year‑over‑year and serving about 2.9 million customers face‑to‑face last year. DDS also said it now operates 68 locations and more than 600,000 mobile driver's license users statewide.

The agency sought $150,000 (line 119.3) to continue armed guard services at five sites after isolated incidents involving weapons and threats; the presenter described an episode in which a customer arrived with a weapon and created an intimidation incident during a written test. "When we're dealing with the general public... that's where the need comes from," the presenter said in justification for security funding.

Other requests included $139,000 to address lease increases across nine locations, $185,000 for security and infrastructure (GTA), $128,499 for back‑end system support and $2,400,000 to reduce turnover in personal services. Committee members pressed the agency to explain the $2.4 million, and DDS representatives said the total reflects both decreased turnover and a net increase in staffing: the agency was funded for roughly 731 positions in 2023 and is staffing about 900 today, and they did not receive prior salary supplement funding for roughly 150 positions now on payroll.

Committee members asked for more detailed breakdowns and the agency said they used last year's actuals and renewal projections to build the request. The presentation closed with bond‑category requests for equipment replacements and counters to modernize front‑line facilities.

The subcommittee did not take a vote during the hearing; staff and senators requested more detail on personnel and card‑production projections before the committee advances budget language.