Committee trims some DEI requests, approves department after amendments

The Everett diversity, equity and inclusion office appeared before the budget committee without its director; Chief of Staff Erin Debney spoke for the department and answered questions about program expansions and a proposed data system to track supplier diversity.

Debney said the office's FY25 request includes higher contractual costs (a roughly 5% contractual increase for an ethics/data contract) and a new supplier‑diversity tracking line. "We're not seeking to create a homegrown system," she said, noting the department plans to explore off‑the‑shelf tools with limited modifications rather than a custom build.

Councilors probed whether DEI professional development is redundant with department‑level training; Debney said the DEI office provides baseline and train‑the‑trainer work that is intended to benefit all city employees and reduce future reliance on contracted trainers.

Several councilors proposed steep reductions to DEI lines. An initial motion to eliminate the $75,000 professional development appropriation failed, but a later motion to cut $25,000 carried on roll call. The committee also trimmed a data‑system request by $20,000 in an earlier motion and adopted a small salaries adjustment agreed with the chief of staff.

Debney outlined a plan to establish a volunteer Human Rights Commission this fiscal year and to revisit stipends later if the council moves to pay members. The committee approved the DEI budget as amended.