Alameda County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting on FY 2026-2027 Budget Deliberations - June 24, 2026
Alameda County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting on FY 2026-2027 Budget Deliberations - June 24, 2026
This special meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, held on June 24, 2026, continued deliberations on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 proposed budget. The board considered a $6.7 billion spending plan that closes a $185 million funding gap without major reductions or layoffs, and debated a board letter requesting up to $19.3 million in one-time funding for the Alameda Health System (AHS) to prevent layoffs, conduct a performance audit, and extend a behavioral health program. The meeting included a closed session on labor negotiations and public comment on closed session items only.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kathy Reeves (legal secretary, Public Defender's Office, SEIU 1021 shop steward) spoke during public comment on closed session items. She expressed that county frontline workers are treated like "indentured servants," struggling to afford housing and food despite working for the county. She demanded respect and fair wages, urging the board to consider labor negotiations carefully.
Discussion Items
- Budget Overview: County Administrator presented the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget: $6.7 billion across all funds, $4.3 billion general fund, supporting over 10,400 employees (a reduction of 45 FTE from prior year). The budget includes $1.25 billion in contracts with 271 community-based organizations. Measure W Essential County Services Fund totals $58.7 million, including $20 million in estimated excess sales tax receipts currently unallocated.
- Senior Services Contracts: Social Services Director Andrea Ford clarified that many Area Agency on Aging (AAA) contracts are being extended for six months, with new RFPs awarded in July and August 2026. Supervisor Miley sought assurance that funding would be available for these contracts.
- Alameda Health System (AHS) Board Letter: Supervisors Miley and Fortunato Bass introduced a letter requesting up to $19.3 million in one-time county funding for AHS to: (a) eliminate the remaining 92 proposed layoffs (covering all bargaining units), (b) fund a performance audit of AHS, (c) extend the Partial Hospitalization/Intensive Outpatient Program (PHP IOP) through October 31, 2026, and (d) continue the AHS ad hoc committee. The funding would also support a feasibility study for the PHP IOP program. Supervisor Miley emphasized the need to preserve labor peace and safety net services. Supervisor Fortunato Bass highlighted the rigorous ad hoc process, including revenue enhancements (e.g., $3.2 million from Alameda Alliance rate increases) and $30 million in efficiencies already identified.
- Supervisor Marquez expressed support but cautioned against setting a precedent of the county always bailing out AHS. She requested a list of the 92 positions and clarity on the PHP IOP extension (4 months vs. 6 months requested by advocates). She also stressed the need to increase operational reserves from 5% to 16% and to deepen investments in senior services.
- Supervisor Tam raised concerns about sustainability, noting that the county is being asked to shift a quarter of AHS's deficit ($19.3 million) onto the county, adding to a $91.4 million budget gap. She questioned the use of the $100 million increase in AHS's net negative balance line of credit and the impact of delayed HR1 cuts. She also asked about the ad hoc committee's transparency and Brown Act compliance. AHS CEO James Jackson responded that AHS intends not to use the line of credit for operational gaps, and that the 92 positions would be preserved through attrition and voluntary separations if funding is approved. He noted that 75% of AHS expenses are labor and that staffing has grown faster than patient volumes.
- President Halbert noted the 9.3% increase in total spending ($570 million) and emphasized the need for efficiencies across all county departments. She supported the board letter but urged including linkages between AHS, public health, and social services in any efficiency review. She also requested regular updates on the performance audit procurement and results.
- Labor Perspective: Maria Betancourt (SEIU 1021 chapter president, AHS specialist clerk) spoke in support of the board letter, stating that the ad hoc committee has improved transparency and that labor is optimistic about finding long-term savings through collaboration.
Key Outcomes
- Motion and Vote: Supervisor Tam moved to adopt the proposed budget as presented on May 28, incorporate final adjustments (no net cost increase), and include the AHS board letter with amendments: (1) regular updates on the performance audit procurement and results, (2) a report back by end of 2026 on the ad hoc committee's status, and (3) policy statements on reserve levels, senior services, efficiencies, children's services budget, and master fee schedule updates. Supervisor Miley seconded. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
- Next Steps: The county administrator will prepare the final budget incorporating board direction and bring it back for formal adoption at a special meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., preceded by a closed session. Public comment on the budget has been closed.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to call to order the special meeting of Tuesday, no, Tuesday, June 23rd, 130. This is a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors for Alameda County. I'd like to ask the clerk to call roll and establish our quorum. Supervisor Marquez, excuse Supervisor Cow. Present. Supervisor Bartonana Bass. President Hobart. Present. We have a quorum. Thank you very much. I appreciate those uh members of the public participating in our meeting in person and online. If you're here to comment on any items before us today, either closed session or open session, we ask that you would fill out a speaker slip and to participate online. We have some special instructions which the clerk will now provide. Detailed instructions are provided in the teleconferencing guidelines. A link to the document is included in today's agenda to view an automated translated transcript or listen to an automated translated audio of the meeting from English into multiple other languages. Please utilize the wordly link in today's agenda or the QR codes posted throughout the room and select your preferred language from the drop-down menu. If you are joining the meeting using a computer, use the button at the bottom of your screen to raise your hand to request to speak. When called to speak, please unmute your microphone and state your name. If you're calling in, dial star nine to raise your hand to speak. When you are called to hope, when you're called, the speak will enable you to speak. If you decide not to speak, notify the clerk when your call is unmuted, or you may simply hang up and dial back into the meeting. When called, you will have two minutes to speak. Please limit your remarks to the time allocated. Public comment will generally alternate between in-person online speakers as determined by the president of the board and subject to overall time limits. In the event that technical difficulties disrupt the Zoom webinar, the meeting may be recessed and reconvened via Microsoft Teams. Detailed instructions are provided in the teleconferencing guidelines. Thank you. Thank you. I note that we have Supervisor Tam participating remotely under the Just Cause provisions of State Senate Bill 2449. Supervisor Tim, would you care to make your uh required declaration? Thank you, President Halbert. I am participating remotely under government code section 549538.3 parentheses and parentheses under the just cost provision because of medical recovery. There are no adults 18 or over present in the room. Thank you, and we wish you a full and speedy recovery. I note that we also are joined by Supervisor Marquez. So we have a full uh 100% participation today. Our next item is to provide public comment on closed session items. There is a list of specific items under closed session. We will take public comment only on those items at this point. There will be public, well, actually, we don't have public comment on open session items. That's right. So if anybody would like to make a comment on closed session items, now would be the time to do that. Do we have any speakers on closed session items in the room first and online after that? First speaker is Kathy Reeves. Welcome and just let us know which item you're speaking on. The first, right? Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Kathy Reeves.
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