FY 2026-27 Proposed Midcycle Budget

  Other Impacts & Changes will not have an adverse impact due to the broader capacity-building staffing improvements.  Equity Consideration: Unfreezing positions to speed up the Rent Adjustment Program hearing process, improve client engagement, and support proactive community engagement efforts will have positive equity benefits for tenants and landlords alike. Vulnerable tenants who qualify for a rent reduction will receive the reduction they deserve sooner than under the status quo. Conversely, small landlords who urgently need to petition for a rent increase to meet rising costs will access faster timelines to secure the necessary authorization.   Invests in affordable housing opportunities by unfreezing 3.0 FTE Housing Development Coordinator positions, who will review funding applications and review funding draw requests, and allocates $1.5 million to fund affordable housing construction and acquisition/rehabilitation projects.  Equity Consideration: Expanding affordable housing opportunities through the new construction of deed-restricted affordable housing will primarily benefit low- income Oaklanders at risk of displacement. This will reduce the impact of the disparate rates at which Black and Latino Oaklanders experience housing-cost burden.   2. Implements the Equitable Lead Hazard Abatement Program with 1.0 FTE Project Manager and 1.0 FTE Community Development Program Coordinator to support other efforts to remediate lead-based paint hazards. This will increase the number of Oakland households that benefit from City-funded lead paint remediation work and will ultimately reduce the number of Oakland youth who experience lead poisoning. This budget also includes $4.4 million in grant funds from the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, which will fund lead-based paint mitigation and healthy homes services for low-income Oakland residents.  Equity Consideration: The lead remediation efforts supported by these staffing and funding changes are highly targeted towards the census tracts at greatest risk of lead-based paint hazards. These census tracts are primarily occupied by Black and Latino households, who are at disproportionate risk of lead poisoning. These lead remediation efforts will help reduce that disparity by protecting low-income renters and owners from lead paint hazards.  3. Freezes 1.0 FTE Accountant II and 1.0 FTE Program Analyst III.  This will have no service impact due a realignment of duties across several positions.    Equity Consideration: There is no discernible equity impact from this action.  1. Planning & Building The Planning and Building Department is maintaining its current budget with no significant changes. As such, there are no anticipated service impacts. No equity analysis needed.  Public Works Restorations Strengthens the City’s capacity to support supporting proactive and rapid response illegal dumping removal  efforts though $1.1 million in overtime funding focused on hotspot corridors, major arterials, and key thoroughfares throughout the City of Oakland.  Equity Consideration: Illegal Dumping crews are responsible for removing illegally dumped materials from public property, supporting special events, and cleaning homeless encampments on public property and within parks. Illegal dumping disproportionately impacts marginalized, underserved, and minority communities that historically have not received an equitable share of public works resources. These resources help target and expand cleanup efforts in the areas most severely affected by illegal dumping.  1. Restores 1.0 FTE Capital Improvement Project Coordinator. This position manages the planning, coordination, and execution of bond funded capital improvement projects citywide.   Equity Consideration: The duties of this position aid in providing capital improvements in underserved areas and follow the City's CIP Prioritization Model where equity is considered by identifying projects that address social and economic disparities.  2. Restores 1.0 FTE Pool Technician and freezes 0.50 FTE Pool Technician, PPT. These positions are responsible for maintenance at the City's pool facilities.  Equity Consideration: There is no discernible equity impact from this action.  3. Restores 2.0 FTE Heavy Equipment Mechanic in the Sewer Division. These positions will restore the capacity needed to repair trucks and equipment in a timely manner, ensuring that citywide services and emergency response operations remain reliable and uninterrupted.  Equity Consideration: The sanitary sewer system encompasses the entire City and most repairs needed are identified after failure. Underground infrastructure assets fail unexpectedly and unpredictably. However, the older an underground asset is, the greater the chance of failure. It would be reasonable to assume that more recently developed areas will be lesser served by this position.  4. Restores 1.0 FTE Environmental Enforcement Officer. This position is part of the Environmental Enforcement Officer (EEO) Program, which conducts patrols and surveillance to address illegal dumping, blight, and nuisance crimes. The program performs public outreach, issues citations, investigates violations, coordinates with appropriate authorities, and participates in City and community events focused on illegal dumping and blight reduction.  Equity Consideration: This position will support the City’s efforts to reduce illegal dumping in Oakland’s historically disadvantaged communities.  5. Restores 1.0 FTE Watershed Program Supervisor within the Watershed Division of the Bureau of Design & Construction. This position assists with the analysis of municipal stormwater programs and services, as well as stormwater capital improvement projects.  Equity Consideration: There is no discernible equity impact from this action.  6. Appropriates an additional $2.0 million necessary to support the existing security contract in the Facilities Services Division, where prior budget levels have not been suff