Committee backs ORESJ budget and considers extending deadline for department equity plans

The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday reviewed the county executive's FY27 operating budget recommendation for the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and discussed a request to extend departmental Racial Equity Action Plan deadlines. Mindy Singleton, council central staff, told the committee the executive recommends a $90,331 increase (5.39%) for ORESJ and said the office earned an 11 on the operating budget equity tool, reflecting a "proactive and strategic commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice."

Director Ward, who leads the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, told the committee the office is fully staffed at 8.5 FTEs and runs policy, training and a newly formed community engagement team. "We are a small but mighty team," Ward said, describing trainings, technical assistance and a community engagement tool the office is developing.

Committee members pressed staff on how the OBET scores are applied and whether smaller departments receive coaching. Councilmember Evans, who said some departments report capacity constraints, asked whether ORESJ provides ongoing coaching or simply ad hoc support; Ward responded that the office offers targeted coaching when departments bring projects to them, runs trainings and circulates guidance, but does not provide sustained, weekly coaching to every office. Singleton added that the OBET analysis also documents where budget or staffing limitations may weaken a department's racial-equity work.

The committee also considered Executive Regulation 30-25, a transmission from the county executive seeking to extend the December 2025 deadline for departmental Racial Equity Action Plans to 2027. Singleton said the transmission (dated 03/25/2026) requests a Method 2 regulation, allowing the council to approve or disapprove within 60 days, and staff recommended approval; Director Ward said roughly 10 of about 41 departments have completed REAPs and explained the office will provide a template, training, technical assistance and a guidance manual to help remaining departments finish their plans under the extended schedule. "We will provide that for them," Ward said of the support the office will offer.

Committee members asked for a date certain in the proposed resolution; Singleton said staff would check whether council can place a specific deadline (staff suggested 12/31/2027 as an option) in the draft resolution before the item goes to full council. The committee agreed to recommend advancement of the regulation pending confirmation of a date certain and additional documentation for the full council packet.

The committee also noted it will revisit ORESJ work after budget season to review community engagement efforts and related implementation work. The committee adjourned after requesting those follow-ups.