Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget
| 2023 Budgeted | 2024 Proposed | Net Change | Percent Change | |
| Appropriations | $38,606,461 | $40,142,876 | $1,536,415 | 4.0% |
| Positions & FTEs | 288 | 290 | 2 | 0.7% |
Departmental Highlights
- Headcount is up two due to the addition of two plumbing inspector positions. Other position changes were title changes within the same general responsibilities.
- The majority of DOB’s budget goes towards salaries and wages, $32.7 million in the 2024 budget proposal with an additional $1.7 million appropriation for overtime.
- DOB’s largest non-personnel appropriation in the 2024 budget is $4 million for professional and technical services.
- Most of the department’s 2024 budget increase comes from increases in salaries/wages and overtime.
- The mobile communication services and fringe benefits appropriations from 2023’s budget were eliminated, and a new appropriation for students as trainees was added.
Historical Context
Year-to-year swings in departmental appropriations balanced out over the course of the Emanuel and Lightfoot administrations, with the Department of Buildings budget growing at an average rate of 0.9% per year from 2011-2023. Departmental budgets overall increased an average of 5.9% per year over the same time period, while the total city budget including Finance General appropriations grew at an average rate of 8.2% annually.
The department’s budgeted workforce declined at a rate of roughly -0.8% annually from 2011-2023. 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 -0.04%.
Staffing
Headcount is up two due to the addition of two plumbing inspector positions. Other position changes were title changes within the same general responsibilities.
Appropriations
Largest Appropriations
The majority of DOB’s budget goes towards salaries and wages, $32.7 million in the 2024 budget proposal with an additional $1.7 million appropriation for overtime.
DOB’s largest non-personnel appropriation in the 2024 budget is $4 million for professional and technical services.
Change from Previous Year
Most of the department’s 2024 budget increase comes from increases in salaries/wages and overtime.
The mobile communication services and fringe benefits appropriations from 2023’s budget were eliminated, and a new appropriation for students as trainees was added.
