The Budget Oversight Hearing for the District of Columbia's Public Works and Operations Committee, chaired by Brianne Nadeau, took place on June 12, 2025. The primary focus of the meeting was the proposed operating budget for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) for Fiscal Year 2026, which stands at $165,728,818. This figure marks a significant 571% increase in operating funds compared to the approved budget for FY 2025. The proposed budget includes 218 full-time equivalents (FTEs), reflecting a modest 1.1% increase in personnel.

In contrast, OCTO's capital budget is set to decrease by 33%, totaling $941,015,000. Despite this reduction, there will be no change in the number of FTEs. Chairperson Nadeau expressed a desire to explore the reasons behind the budget increases, particularly in federal grant funds, special purpose revenue (SPR) funds, and contracts. She emphasized the importance of maximizing local and federal dollars to enhance the city’s security and promote digital equity and education.

The hearing also addressed the proposed budget for the Office of Risk Management (ORM), which is responsible for reducing risks to the DC government through various programs, including workers' compensation and risk prevention. ORM's proposed budget for FY 2026 is $4,465,127, reflecting a decrease of 4.5%.

The meeting was conducted both in-person and virtually, with live broadcasts available for public viewing. Witnesses representing organizations were allotted five minutes to testify, while individual speakers had three minutes. The session aimed to ensure transparency and gather insights on the proposed budgets and their implications for the District of Columbia.