Alameda County Board of Supervisors Budget Hearing – June 23, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on Monday, June 22, but the provided meeting date is June 23, 2026. This summary uses the provided date and treats the proceedings as part of the June 23 session, which was a continuation of the prior day's budget hearings.

This special meeting was a continuation of the County's fiscal year 2026-27 budget hearings. The Board heard overviews of the proposed $6.7 billion all‑funds budget ($4.3 billion general fund), reviewed program area presentations, received extensive public testimony, and discussed final budget adjustments and a board letter to address Alameda Health System's fiscal challenges. The meeting concluded with a motion to close hearings and recess to Tuesday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m. for deliberations, with final adoption scheduled for Thursday, June 25.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented at this hearing.

Public Comments & Testimony

On the Introductory Remarks & Overview:

• Jean Moses and John Lindsay Poland expressed difficulty reading late‑distributed handouts and requested more time for public review. They questioned the $182 million allocated to Santa Rita Jail capital projects, noting a lack of detail compared to other urgent needs.
• Kari Maki (Restore Oakland) argued that the county’s fiscal prudence should be re‑evaluated given widespread resident struggles and called for redirection of funds to direct services.
• Shirley G (Vietnamese American Community Center) requested support for the Senior Services Coalition’s funding requests, noting increased demand for food security and mental health services among seniors.
• Alison Monroe (Families Advocating for the Seriously Mentally Ill) urged a “care first, jails last” approach, opposing large jail capital expenditures.
• Mina Kuchi echoed concerns about the jail capital spending and asked for online posting of budget documents.

On Public Assistance Budget:

• Wendy Peterson (Senior Services Coalition) stated that the proposed budget does not include the requested $2.2 million to backfill cuts to Area Agency on Aging contracts and $1.7 million for senior meals; she urged the Board to include these in Measure W Essential Services Fund allocations.
• Kim Olson (SOS Meals on Wheels) described the impact of Measure W funding, providing over 500,000 meals to home‑bound seniors, and asked for continued support.
• Sherry Novick advocated for licensed board‑and‑care facilities and a land‑trust model to preserve affordable housing for adults with disabilities.
• Cassie Bartholomew (Stop Waste), Linda Liu (TCV Food Bank), Maria Alderete (Community Kitchens), and others from the Food Sovereignty Roundtable requested $17 million for food security, especially to address HR1 impacts, and asked for increased funding for food recovery distribution.
• Kendall Johnson (Feed Black Futures) and Alma Zebeko (African Resource Center) highlighted food access gaps for Black and immigrant communities and supported the $20 million Essential Services Fund allocation.
• Aliah Phelps (Parent Voices Oakland) requested reinstatement of the Children’s Budget document and urged prioritization of families and children in Measure C pediatric fund spending.
• LaShar Tokyo and Benika Coleman raised concerns about family child‑care providers bearing food costs and the need for Measure C pediatric funds to be expended.
• Madeline Stacy urged that funds be directed to homeless and housing services per the Home Together plan.

On Health Care Services Budget:

• Tony Panetta (Alameda Health Consortium) thanked staff for the budget work and highlighted ongoing Medicaid enrollment losses (3,000 patients in June), urging support for Health Pac contracts and Measure W funds.
• Drew Scott and Craig Metz (Fairmont IOP/PHP therapists) opposed planned closures of the intensive outpatient program, citing an 83% reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations. They asked for six months of additional funding to demonstrate financial viability.
• Parisa Farohi, Chelsea DeMarty, Alicia Caldwell, and Dr. Freed (AHS behavioral health staff) described the unique services for chronically mentally ill patients and argued that alternative programs cannot meet their needs. They requested the Board to preserve the program.
• Debbie Padilla and Derek Vay (SEIU 1021) asked the Board to support the ad‑hoc committee’s work and provide funds to reduce layoffs at Alameda Health System.
• Mina Kuchi and Laura Cox (RN) amplified calls to redirect funding from the sheriff and jail budgets to health services.
• Jean Moses (Interfaith Coalition) supported the Shikla (Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance) project and urged starting care 90 days pre‑release from Santa Rita Jail.

On Public Protection Budget:

• Richard Spiegelman (Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails) urged funding for mental health diversion and the public defender’s office to reduce jail population.
• Mina Kuchi asked for transparency on sheriff’s technology contracts (Peregrine, Flock) and supported Restore Oakland’s request to cut jail funding in favor of the public defender.

On General Government and Capital Projects:

• John Lindsay Poland questioned the $181 million jail capital appropriation, noting that last year’s $235 million had minimal public detail, and requested clarity before approval.

On Final Budget Adjustments:

• Janice Roberts (Mercy Brownbag) asked the Board to include the Senior Services Coalition’s $2.2 million backfill and $3.8 million capacity funding in the Measure W Essential Services plan.
• Wendy Peterson reiterated the urgency of confirming that senior services funding is in the $20 million excess Measure W receipts adjustment, as contracts expire June 30.
• Casey Bartholomew (Stop Waste) supported increasing food recovery grants from $500,000 in the expenditure plan.

Discussion Items

Budget Overview & Economic Outlook (Melanie Atendido, Amy Schrego, Rasley Tadeo)

• The county administrator presented the $6.7 billion proposed budget, closing a $185 million maintenance‑of‑effort gap with $93.4 million in one‑time retirement savings. Only 25% of balancing strategies are ongoing.
• The five‑year forecast projects growing structural deficits due to rising labor, health care, and IHSS costs, and economic uncertainty.
• Measure W allocations: 80% to Home Together Fund ($136 million/year), 20% to Essential County Services ($34 million/year). A $170 million prudent reserve was established.
• The auditor controller (Melissa Wilk) presented the FY2024‑25 annual comprehensive financial report, noting a $2.4 billion general fund balance but only $213 million in contingency reserves (5% of budget), far below the GFOA best practice of 16% (two months of operating expenditures).
• Supervisor Marquez, Miley, and Fortunato Bass questioned the reserve level, audit ratings, risk management costs, and the vacancy/overlap between funded and unfilled positions.
• Public commenters raised concerns about late document availability, large jail capital spending, and the need for senior and food program funding.

Public Assistance Program (Mark Lipkin)

• Proposed budget: $1.1 billion appropriations (down $20.7 million), net county cost $76.4 million, 2,379 FTEs. Includes $5.8 million in Measure W funds for immigration contracts, workfare slots, food bank, and aging services temporary staffing.
• Supervisor Miley and Fortunato Bass asked about vacancy rates (18% in Social Services), retention strategies, and the status of the Children’s Budget document. Director Andrea Ford noted 425 vacant FTEs, mostly eligibility workers; a recruitment class of 46 is graduating in August.
• Discussion on the timeline and community engagement for the redesigned Children’s Budget.

Health Care Services (Ambi Bohan, Director Anika Chowdry)

• Proposed budget: $1.3 billion appropriations (up $21 million), including $769 million in CBO contracts. Measure W adds $308 million ($289 million Home Together, $19.2 million Essential County Services). Behavioral health is the largest sub‑program.
• Supervisor Miley questioned the board‑and‑care bed shortage and the status of pre‑release care from Santa Rita Jail (CalAIM start July 1). Director Chowdry said discussions are ongoing on the Shikla project but noted it requires 10‑15 year operational subsidies.
• Supervisor Fortunato Bass asked about the transition from prevention to early intervention under the Behavioral Health Services Act, affecting 12 underserved ethnic/language providers; 10 of 12 opted into early intervention with technical assistance.
• Public testimony from AHS staff and SEIU pressed for preserving the IOP/PHP program and reducing layoffs.

Public Protection (Adam Segg)

• Proposed budget: $1.2 billion appropriations, net county cost $578 million (up 5%). Sheriff’s office largest ($647 million). Budget balancing included $29.3 million in savings through vacant position eliminations and increased revenue.
• Supervisor Marquez noted the $5 million increase to the public defender’s office and ongoing work on Care First Jails Last and reimagined adult justice; an update is set for July 23.
• Supervisor Miley asked for historical overtime and vacancy data at Santa Rita Jail; under‑sheriff April Lucky reported 24% vacancy (703 sworn positions, 500 filled) and $54 million overtime in FY2526 as of May.

General Government & Capital Projects (Nicole DeLuca, Amy Vien)

• General fund appropriations: $343 million (up $25 million), net county cost $149 million. Capital budget: $795 million, an increase of $210 million from prior year, including $223 million for jail projects (facility condition and health services) and $246 million for solar/energy savings.
• Supervisor Miley and Fortunato Bass sought clarification that the $181 million jail capital for FY2627 is a re‑authorization of previously approved projects, not new spending. The five‑year capital improvement plan will be presented later.
• Supervisor Miley pressed on the $35 million Camp Sweeney grant (state funds for juvenile justice) that remains unspent since 2011. Probation Chief Brian Ford and GSA Director Kimberly Gassaway said conversations continue on appropriate uses.
• Supervisor Fortunato Bass highlighted the need to update property tax assessment appeal fees; staff will prioritize it for the master fee schedule.
• Supervisor Marquez noted the special election for Congressional District 14 is costing $12 million ($6 million each for primary and general), not reimbursed by the state.

Final Budget Adjustments and Board Letter

• County administrator entered final budget adjustments: $14 million in general fund and Measure A funds, and $29.8 million in other funds (including $20 million unallocated Measure W excess receipts) with no net county cost increase.
• Supervisors Miley and Fortunato Bass introduced a letter proposing an allocation of up to $19.3 million to Alameda Health System to: (A) eliminate the remaining 92 FTEs from the reduction in force for FY26‑27, (B) direct AC Health to convene a planning group to assess the PHP/IOP program, (C) extend the ad‑hoc committee, (D) explore county employment for affected IOP staff, and (E) direct the CAO and auditor to identify funding sources for the one‑time allocation.
• Public commenters urged the Board to confirm senior services funding within the $20 million Measure W excess allocation and to increase food recovery grants.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to close public hearings and recess to Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. for budget deliberations, made by Supervisor Miley, seconded by Supervisor Fortunato Bass, and approved unanimously (Supervisor Tam excused). Final budget adoption set for Thursday, June 25 at 4:00 p.m.
• The board letter for AHS funding will be considered during deliberations.
• Unresolved items: Specific allocations for senior services (backfill and meals) and food security grants within the $20 million Measure W excess receipts will be addressed after the auditor confirms actual year‑end revenues. CBOs whose contracts expire June 30 will receive a list from Social Services before the next meeting.
• The five‑year capital improvement plan will be brought to a future work session, likely before the August recess.
• Staff will work on updating the children’s budget, master fee schedule (including assessment appeal fees), and a detailed report on Measure W essential county services allocations.