We’re not even halfway through the 2023-24 fiscal year, which began July 1. But the governor’s new proposed budget will offer a bit of a true-up on projections in the enacted FY 2023-24 budget — and it will, obviously, use that budget as a starting point and a primer in how to allocate future money for technology. What could the baseline be? A look at numerous ongoing initiatives may tell us a lot about that. Among the takeaways:
- The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) could seek additional funding in FY 2024-25 for Next-Generation 911 and the California Public Safety Microwave Network via a budget change proposal (BCP). The endeavor received $137.6 million from other funds in the FY 2023-24 state budget. In a BCP, Cal OES had sought exactly that amount ($19.5 million in state operations and $118.1 million in local assistance) for FY 2023-24, plus $132.8 million in FY 2024-25, and $91.4 million in “ongoing State Emergency Telephone Number Account” funding to finish building the California Public Safety Microwave Network, finish the Next-Gen 911 system — and for maintenance and support of both.
- The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) could seek additional funding in FY 2024-25 for Digital Workflow Management, and Security and Access Management. In a BCP ahead of the FY 2023-24 budget, FTB sought $1.83 million — plus additional monies in FY 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 — to pay for two permanent positions, one limited-term position, and software during FY 2023-24. It received $1.8 million from the General Fund, $35,000 from other funds and three positions for Digital Workflow Management. In a second BCP, the board asked for $1.81 million — plus additional monies in FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 — to pay for two permanent positions and software costs in FY 2023-24 associated with cutting security risk via privileged access management and multifactor authentication. It received $1.8 million from the General Fund, $35,000 from other funds and two positions for Security and Access Management.
- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) may seek additional funding as they work to expand the statewide tele-mental health program. The two received $11 million from the General Fund and 85 positions in FY 2023-24 to expand the program, precisely what they had sought in a BCP for FY 2023-24. The departments had also asked for 144 positions and $17.3 million from the General Fund in FY2024-25; and 144 positions and $16.8 million from the General Fund in FY 2025-26 and ongoing to expand tele-mental health services to include psychology and social work in addition to psychiatry.
- Partner agencies could seek additional funding in FY 2024-25 for the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC), created by state code in 2018. Cal-CSIC received $23.2 million and 14 positions in FY 2023-24, following a joint BCP ask from the California Highway Patrol, Cal OES, the California Military Department and the California Department of Technology, its partner members. The partners had jointly sought $28.7 million and 17 positions to preserve resources authorized in FY 2020-21 and to enhance resources available to support the center’s responsibilities — specifically targeting cyber threats. They previously had sought positions and funding in FY 2020-21 that was set to expire June 30.
