Reparations commission asks for county sponsorship and an initial $5 million budget; board schedules work sessions

The Alameda County Reparations Commission told the Board’s ad hoc committee on May 30 that it needs administrative sponsorship, research partnerships and funding to complete a thorough countywide reparations action plan.

Chair Deborah said the commission’s original modest budget—about $51,000 for stipends and meeting space—was insufficient for the two‑year program of listening sessions, city‑level research, policy analysis and legal review commissioners envision. The commission’s early estimate places total needs in the roughly $5,000,000 range over its work period, with individual subcommittees still developing itemized budgets.

"To do the work over the next two years [we] landed in that $5,000,000 range," Chair Deborah said, listing community facilitation, research, policy and legal expertise. The infrastructure subcommittee estimated roughly $1,100,000 for outreach, marketing, digital and in-person engagement, particularly to reach unincorporated parts of the county.

Commissioners requested that a county department sponsor the commission operationally so volunteers can access county staff support and an administrative home. Chair Deborah said the new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not yet staffed enough to absorb the commission and recommended an interim sponsor (suggestions included Social Services, Behavioral Health, or the county Human Rights Commission staff). President Miley and other supervisors said the request is reasonable but suggested a formal work session to define what sponsorship would mean and to evaluate county capacity.

The commission also asked the Board to authorize academic partnerships and a tailored MOU. The commission referenced prior approaches—San Francisco’s county program, Hayward’s Russell City work and state task force materials—and suggested soliciting fellows or contracted research support from local universities; the Board asked for a clear scope of work and for draft terms the commission recommends.

Timing and next steps: the committee and commission agreed to a sequence of follow-ups: the commission will finalize subcommittee itemized budgets at its June 12 meeting; an ad hoc committee meeting is expected in early to mid‑July to review those budgets; the Board will hold a July work session (target July 30) to discuss the academic MOU scope and the fiscal-year request; and supervisors targeted September for any formal budget action. The Board noted external grant opportunities (for example, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) could supplement county funding but any acceptance of outside funds requires Board approval.

What was not decided: the ad hoc committee did not approve any funding at the meeting and requested a rolled‑up, itemized budget before advancing a county budget request.

Quotes: Chair Deborah said, "We quickly realized... facilitation for community listening sessions, research on where disinvestments occurred, and legal expertise will be essential." Supervisor Marquez warned the board will need a clear itemized budget before committing county funds.