Supervisors direct CEO to work with veterans on VSO autonomy options and mediation

The Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 unanimously directed County Executive Officer Nicole Coburn to work with veteran representatives to develop options for organizational and operational changes to the Veterans Service Office (VSO). The board also directed continued third‑party mediation and asked the CEO to return in April–May 2026 with proposed models, cost estimates and steps to address root causes of the service concerns raised by veterans.

Veteran leaders presented the board with a detailed account of operational disruptions they say have affected the VSO’s ability to serve veterans: suspension of the VA work‑study program, challenges with volunteer support and DAV transportation, limits on outreach and constraints on grant applications. Veterans argued those changes have reduced the office’s capacity to find and file benefits claims and urged structural autonomy or an MOU model that provides operational independence while preserving administrative in‑kind supports.

The CEO told the board she is evaluating HSD in‑kind services and IT/support resources that currently underpin the VSO. She estimated that transferring the VSO to the CEO office without replacing HSD in‑kind supports could add roughly $250,000–$1,000,000 annually in additional costs, depending on the level of in‑house support the CEO would need to provide. The board asked the CEO to examine multiple models (full stand‑alone under CEO, a Monterey‑style MOU that affords autonomy within HSD, or a hybrid arrangement) and to return with options that would be agreeable to veterans and that include cost and implementation details.

The formal board direction also included continuation of third‑party mediation to address internal personnel and operational issues and to produce a path toward restoring or improving services. The motion — introduced by Supervisor Hernandez and seconded by Supervisor Cummings with a friendly amendment to include mediation and to preserve necessary in‑kind HSD supports where feasible — passed 5–0.

Board members and veteran speakers emphasized the VSO’s role in obtaining VA awards and benefits; staff noted the office’s recent performance in securing millions in new awards for local veterans and that some supporting services are delivered as in‑kind HSD functions rather than line items in the VSO budget. The CEO will return with recommendations and a cost analysis for the board’s consideration.