Alameda County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting Summary – March 12, 2026

This special meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors convened on March 12, 2026, to address the county's fiscal outlook, Measure W essential services spending, and the status of child welfare services following a state audit. Note: The meeting transcript references Tuesday, March 10, 2026; the date used here is as provided.

Closed Session

• The board recessed into closed session after receiving public comment concerning a public trail closure and a proposed transfer of a BART parking lot. No reportable actions were taken during the session, but the board later authorized the county counsel to sign onto amicus briefs in coordination with the Public Rights Project in the matter of MIOT v. Trump (Case No. 26-5050) pending in the D.C. Circuit Court. The vote was 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Closed session comment: One speaker criticized the county for sponsoring the closure of a 150-year-old hiking and biking trail and for planning to give away a publicly owned parking lot at Dublin BART station to a private party, calling the latter a “white elephant.”
• Item 1 – Budget update: Two in-person speakers addressed the board. Samuel Ramy expressed frustration that tax revenues are not used to house or feed homeless residents, alleging mismanagement of funds. A second speaker (Buffalo Soldier) called for completion of the Oak Knoll Naval Air Station senior housing project and questioned the allocation of housing resources to immigrants over local homeless residents.
• Item 2a – Measure W: 34 speakers (15 in person, 19 online) advocated for ongoing funding priorities, including:
  • Allocating at least 35% of the Essential Services Fund to unincorporated areas (multiple speakers from Eden Power Collective and community organizations).
  • Sustaining mental health prevention and early intervention programs threatened by Proposition 1 cuts (speakers from Prevention Matters Collaborative, Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities, Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, Crisis Support Services, etc.).
  • Maintaining senior meal programs and food security services (Senior Services Coalition, SOS Meals on Wheels, Mercy Brownbag, Legal Assistance for Seniors).
  • Supporting immigrant and refugee legal services and community health providers (La Clinica de la Raza, Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center).
  • One speaker (Laura Calvert) criticized the late posting of the agenda and materials, stating the process impeded meaningful public input.
• Item 2b – DCFS: No public comments were offered.

Discussion Items

1. Federal, State, and County Budget & Finance Update

• Staff (Rasley Tadeo and Amy Schregel) presented a comprehensive overview of economic conditions and budget risks. Key points:
  • Alameda County’s median home price in January 2026 was $1.12 million, down 5% from December and 2.6% year-over-year. Home sales fell 40% compared to December. Foreclosure filings rose 32% year-over-year.
  • The February 2026 jobs report showed a loss of 92,000 jobs nationally; the unemployment rate held at 4.4%.
  • Federal uncertainty: HR1 legislation threatens significant Medi-Cal and SNAP cuts. The state’s LAO has advised waiting for May revise before making budget decisions.
  • The county’s general fund appropriations total $4.3 billion for FY 25-26, supporting nearly 10,500 FTEs. A structural deficit persists; the current year gap ($105.7 million) was closed with one-time ($60.6M) and ongoing ($45.1M) strategies.
  • The county maintains its AAA credit rating (shared by only two other California counties). Unfunded capital needs exceed $800 million.
  • Sales tax measures: Three countywide measures (AA, C, W) raise approximately $170 million annually for health, child care, and essential services. Cities are also adding sales taxes, pushing rates toward 11.25% in some areas.
  • Historical realignments (1991, 2011) shifted program costs to counties while providing dedicated but insufficient revenue. Since 1993-94, Alameda County has lost $11.5 billion in property tax revenue to the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF).
• Board discussion:
  • Supervisor Miley voiced frustration with state unfunded mandates and realignment, calling the system “broken.” He urged reform of property tax allocation.
  • Supervisor Tam asked about limits on sales tax increases; staff noted that while legal waivers are possible, voter appetite and competition from city taxes are constraints.
  • Supervisor Fortunato Bass advocated for exploring new revenue sources, including a billionaire’s tax and split-roll property tax reform. She asked staff to include CIP budget in future presentations.
  • President Halbert requested that each department list its unfunded mandates during budget hearings and asked about the county’s ability to poll the community on tax measures. Staff indicated that county funds can be used for polling on the county’s own measures but not on others’ campaigns.

2. Measure W Essential Services Update

• Staff presented a proposed two-year spending plan for the Essential Services Fund, which has $170 million in ongoing revenue and $14.78 million in one-time carryover. Key recommendations:
  • Stabilize the safety net: $20 million/year for health pack, Prop 1 mitigation, medical retention, and support for LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities.
  • Meet basic needs countywide: $7 million/year for food security, senior staffing, and older adult services.
  • Housing stability, tenant protections, and capacity building: $7 million/year (planned for unincorporated areas).
  • One-time capital and major maintenance: $14.78 million deferred.
• Board discussion and direction:
  • Supervisor Miley questioned the 35% allocation request for unincorporated areas, noting the region accounts for about 10% of population. Staff clarified that capital projects (e.g., Castro Valley Library, Livermore sewer, San Lorenzo Theatre) plus housing services bring the unincorporated share to approximately 20–34% over the fund’s life.
  • Supervisors generally supported moving the housing stability and tenant protection bucket to the Home Together fund, freeing up $7 million for health care and safety net priorities.
  • Supervisor Tam emphasized the need for bridge funding for Prop 1 and Alameda Health System. Supervisor Fortunato Bass pushed for additional mental health prevention, reproductive health, and fair chance housing. President Halbert called for outcomes-based contracting and accountability dashboards.
  • Staff will refine the plan and return in April with detailed allocations, contract augmentation lists, and implementation timelines. The board did not finalize the dollar amounts but provided consensus on the broad framework.

3. Department of Children and Family Services – State Audit Follow-Up

• Social Services Agency and Behavioral Health staff updated the board on progress addressing a 2024 state audit. Highlights:
  • Open referrals backlog reduced by 57% (from 3,997 to 1,497). The oldest open referral dates to 2021.
  • Daily emergency response staffing averages 10–14 workers on day shift, dropping to 11.3 in February 2026.
  • Behavioral Health partnership: 96% of foster youth (approximately 960) are connected to services. 32% of shared clients are placed out of county.
  • 14 audit recommendations are addressed or in progress: completed items include mandatory shadowing for new hires, documentation templates for court reports, and policies to track shelter overstays.
  • Ongoing work includes meet-and-confer with supervisors’ union on case oversight, a staff survey on retention, and data-sharing improvements.
  • A public dashboard is now available with metrics on referral timeliness, staffing, and foster child well-being (sibling placement, medical exams).
• Board comments:
  • Supervisor Tam requested qualitative data to complement the dashboard, such as stories of successful sibling reunifications and high-needs youth placements. Staff agreed to include such information in future updates.
  • Supervisor Fortunato Bass stressed the importance of system collaboration and transparency through the interagency coordinating council.
  • The next report to the Social Services Committee is scheduled for April 23, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Closed session: Authorized 5-0 to join amicus briefs in MIOT v. Trump.
• Budget update: No formal action; board directed staff to return with additional information on CIP budget, unfunded mandates by department, and options for polling on tax measures.
• Measure W spending plan: Board gave informal direction to staff to develop a two-year expenditure plan focusing on safety net stabilization and basic needs, with housing-related allocations moved to the Home Together fund. Staff will present a detailed proposal in April 2026.
• DCFS audit update: No formal action; staff will continue implementing recommendations and report to the Social Services Committee on April 23, 2026. The board encouraged inclusion of qualitative success stories in future reports.
• The next special meeting agenda will be communicated in advance to allow for longer public notice.