Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget
| 2023 Budgeted | 2024 Proposed | Net Change | Percent Change | |
| Appropriations | $71,399,885 | $84,864,393 | $13,464,508 | 18.9% |
| Positions & FTEs | 82 | 82 | 0 | 0.0% |
Departmental Highlights
- As in the previous two years, DCASE continues to be heavily funded by COVID relief funds. In the proposed 2024 budget DCASE appropriates roughly $29.6m from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, down from $24m in 2023.
- DCASE’s largest spending categories are external, with roughly 20% of the department’s budget dedicated to professional and technical services (outside contracting) and another 18% to delegate agencies.
- Since the pandemic, DCASE’s budgeted workforce increased roughly 24% in the past two budgets. The current 2024 budget proposal retains the previous year’s staffing level, with no additional budgeted positions.
Historical Context
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has been a recipient of COVID relief funds, which significantly distort its historical comparisons. DCASE was budgeted $36 million in 2022 and $34 million in 2023 from COVID relief funds. The proposed 2024 budget appropriates roughly $29.6 million for DCASE from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Prior to the pandemic, DCASE appropriations were declining at an average rate of -2.9% per year from 2011-2021. Departmental budgets overall increased an average of 3.2% per year over the same time period, while the total city budget including Finance General appropriations grew at an average rate of 5% annually.
DCASE’s pre-pandemic budgeted workforce had been declining at a rate of roughly -1.5% annually from 2011-2021. 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 -0.5%.
Since the pandemic, DCASE’s budgeted workforce increased roughly 24% in the past two budgets. The current 2024 budget proposal retains the previous year’s staffing level, with no additional budgeted positions.
Staffing
The total number of budgeted DCASE positions remained the same as in the prior year’s budget. The Director of Public Affairs position was eliminated. A Deputy Director position was also eliminated, while a Deputy Commissioner position was added.
Appropriations
Largest Appropriations
The majority of DCASE’s budget is passed through to other entities. Professional and technical services (outside contracting) is the largest appropriation account, followed by delegate agencies.
Delegate agency spending is entirely funded by COVID relief funds in the proposed 2024 budget, while professional and technical services draw on a combination of grants and cultural/special events funds.
The arts and cultural initiatives appropriation, which in the past two budgets had been a $10 million finance general appropriation, has been moved to the DCASE budget and reduced to $6 million in the 2024 proposal.
Change from Previous Year
Apart from the addition of the $6 million arts and cultural initiatives lump sum, the largest appropriations increases in DCASE’s proposed 2024 budget are in professional and technical services, festival production, and matching and supplemental grants.
Delegate agency and American Rescue Plan investment spending, both of which rely on pandemic relief funds, saw the largest cuts.
