Presenting their Fiscal Year 2026 budget request of $19.4 million to senators, Department of Administration Director Edward Birn says even  with slightly slimmer requests,  due to lower payments on its government-wide financial system contract, the demands are anything but.

“We work in the background, trying to make the wheels of government work,” said Birn. 

Among their priorities: New budget tracking tools, paperless payroll migration, and streamlining government procurement.

Senator Christopher Dueñas zeroed in on a familiar problem, the government’s 2024 audit being pushed to November, with officials pointing to delays at the Department of Education.

“It’s almost impossible for us to forecast what the balance of the general fund will be without good information and good information is not flowing from DOE,” added Birn. 

“Speaker BJ Cruz is extremely exasperated and angry... this perennial issue with DOE. We understand that that’s the best they’re going to do – get to November 2025, which is really, in my opinion, unacceptable,” said Dueñas.

DOA says it may need to take over DOE’s accounting, a move that’s being discussed with legal counsel.

And as DOA pushes to modernize, senators expressed frustration over old technology like the 400 still in use at key agencies.

In the meantime, DOA says it will continue working with agencies to improve financial reporting, streamline procurement, and ensure compliance with federal and local requirements while managing core functions.