The city’s Department of Human Resources manages the city’s hiring, firing and employee discipline administration, including the civil service testing and application process. DHR also manages payroll, benefits and other major HR functions.
Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget
| 2023 Budget | 2024 Proposed | Net Change | Percent Change | |
| Appropriations | $12,051,198 | $13,792,309 | $1,741,111 | 14.4% |
| Positions & FTEs | 131 | 134 | 3 | 2.3% |
Departmental Highlights
- The Department of Human Resources saw one of the largest budget and staffing increases of the previous year’s budget cycle, nearly doubling its number of budgeted positions, including 16 new Recruiting Coordinator positions and 13 new Onboarding Specialist positions. The 2024 budget increases DHR’s appropriations by a further 14.4%, a smaller increase but still significantly higher than the department’s historical average or the overall city budget growth.
- Headcount was up a net three positions: an additional recruiting coordinator, and one position each in the new titles Director of Classification and Compensation and Director of Training and Development.
- Like most city departments, DHR’s appropriations are predominantly personnel-based, with salaries and wages on payroll the largest cost category by far. The majority of DHR’s appropriations increase comes from increases in personnel cost categories, including a roughly $400,000 increase in the Salary Provision appropriation, up from roughly $30,000 the previous year.
Historical Context
The Department of Human Resources saw one of the largest budget and staffing increases of last year’s budget cycle, nearly doubling its number of budgeted positions, including 16 new Recruiting Coordinator positions and 13 new Onboarding Specialist positions.
From 2011-2023, the department budget grew at an average rate of 8.0% per year, largely driven by the 2023 budget increase. 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 grew at a rate of roughly 5.1% annually from 2011-2023, again primarily driven by growth in the most recent budget cycle. 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 was up a net three positions: an additional recruiting coordinator, and one position each in the new titles Director of Classification and Compensation and Director of Training and Development.
Appropriations
Largest Appropriations
Like most city departments, DHR’s appropriations are predominantly personnel-based, with salaries and wages on payroll the largest cost category by far.
Change from Previous Year
The majority of DHR’s appropriations increase comes from increases in personnel cost categories, including a roughly $400,000 increase in the Salary Provision appropriation, up from roughly $30,000 the previous year.
