7504 - Office of Data and Innovation

April 30, 2025

Position Stability: Maintains 65.0 authorized positions in FY 2025-26, unchanged from FY 2024-25[1]
Actual Staffing: Currently operating with 48.0 filled positions in FY 2023-24, representing a 26% vacancy rate[1]
Staffing Adjustments: Budget reflects salary and benefit adjustments without adding new positions[1]

Peak Funding: FY 2024-25 saw the highest total budget at $35.62 million[1]
Funding Reduction: The FY 2025-26 budget decreases to $17.65 million, a 50.5% reduction from FY 2024-25[1]
Operating Expenses: Significant reduction in operating expenses from $22.94 million in FY 2024-25 to $4.94 million in FY 2025-26[1]

General Fund: Consistent General Fund support of approximately $17.6 million annually[1]
Revolving Fund Phase-Out: The Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund ($16 million in FY 2024-25) is not funded in FY 2025-26[1]
Reimbursement Changes: One-time reimbursement authority of $2 million in FY 2024-25 not continued in FY 2025-26[1]

The Office of Data and Innovation receives funding from three primary sources:

6271 - Office of Data and Innovation: Sole program code for all ODI activities and operations[1]

0001 - General Fund: Primary funding source providing stable operational funding ($17.65 million in FY 2025-26)[1]
0995 - Reimbursements: Temporary funding for specific interagency projects ($2 million in FY 2024-25, not continued)[1]
9753 - Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund: Special fund for fee-based services ($16 million in FY 2024-25, not continued)[1]

Major Projects and Initiatives

User-Centered Design: ODI partners with departments to implement human-centered design methodologies in government service delivery[2].
Digital Service Transformation: Provides expertise and support to agencies seeking to improve their digital platforms and services[3].
Service Simplification: Conducts service mapping and user research to identify and eliminate unnecessary complexity in government services[4].

Statewide Data Strategy: Developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for data management, sharing, and use across state government[5].
Open Data Initiatives: Promoting transparency through open data platforms and standards[6].
Data Governance Framework: Establishing consistent data governance practices across state entities[5].

Innovation Skills Development: Providing training programs and resources to build innovation capabilities within departments[7].
Digital Service Academy: Offering specialized training for state employees in digital service delivery and modern technology practices[8].
Leadership Training: Supporting executives and managers in fostering innovative cultures within their organizations[7].

Legacy System Transformation: Assisting departments in modernizing outdated technology systems[9].
Agile Implementation: Providing expertise in agile methodologies for technology projects[10].
Technology Assessment: Evaluating existing systems and recommending modernization approaches[9].

Short-Term Engagement Model: Providing 8-12 week engagements with departments to tackle specific service delivery challenges[11].
Multidisciplinary Approach: Teams include designers, researchers, engineers, and product managers working collaboratively with department staff[11].
Knowledge Transfer: Focused on teaching departments how to continue innovation work after the engagement ends[11].

Extended Implementation Support: Providing longer-term assistance for departments implementing significant service improvements[12].
Scaled Solutions: Building on successful Alpha projects to implement solutions at scale[12].
Cross-Department Collaboration: Facilitating partnerships between departments with similar service delivery challenges[12].

Skill-Building Workshops: Targeted training programs in user research, service design, and innovation methodologies[13].
Communities of Practice: Fostering networks of innovators across state government[13].
Innovation Tools and Resources: Developing and sharing reusable resources, templates, and toolkits[13].

Data Analysis and Visualization: Supporting departments in turning data into actionable insights[14].
Data Architecture Consulting: Advising on data infrastructure and architecture improvements[14].
Data Ethics Framework: Promoting responsible data use practices across government[14].

The Office of Data and Innovation is organized into several functional teams:

Leadership Team: Sets strategic direction and oversees operations
Design and Research: Leads user-centered design and research activities
Engineering and Technology: Provides technical expertise and development support
Data and Analytics: Specializes in data science, analytics, and visualization
Training and Capability Building: Delivers training programs and resources
Operations: Manages administrative functions and processes

In FY 2025-26, the Office has a workforce allocation of 65.0 positions[1].

Initial Establishment: ODI was created with a hybrid funding model combining General Fund and fee-for-service through the revolving fund[15].
Revolving Fund Approach: The Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund allowed ODI to charge departments for specialized services, generating $4.89 million in FY 2023-24 and projected $16 million in FY 2024-25[1].
Model Assessment: After evaluating the effectiveness of the revolving fund approach, the FY 2025-26 budget shifts to a primarily General Fund model[1].

Funding Consolidation: The FY 2025-26 budget consolidates funding primarily into General Fund appropriations[1].
Service Delivery Focus: The transition enables ODI to focus on service delivery rather than cost recovery[16].
Reserved Balance: The revolving fund maintains a reserve for economic uncertainties of $766,000 in FY 2025-26[1].