Central Services presents decision packages: strategic planning, preservation grant match and DEI training funding

Allison Wells, branch manager and staff liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, and Paula Jaramillo Guajera, DEI coordinator, presented several Department 18 decision-package requests to the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7 as part of the FY2026 budget work session.

Wells described a $6,750 request to increase the Historic Preservation Commission’s budget line so the commission can provide a cash match for a consultant if awarded a Historic Resources Development Program grant from the State Historical Society. “The way that they derived at this request … about a $27,000 grant. So 25% of that would be $6,750,” Wells said, adding that the commission would provide volunteer in-kind match for the remainder. Wells said the commission historically operates on a $2,000 annual budget.

DEI staff requested $8,000 to continue and expand Empower Johnson County Day and a year-round training series. Paula Jaramillo Guajera said last year’s event was successful but that rising costs mean the county should budget funds for stipends to enable community instructors or guest presenters to participate and to support additional quarterly training sessions. “I don't feel comfortable asking community members to … share their knowledge for nothing,” she said.

The nut graf: Department 18 asked supervisors to fund one-time and ongoing items: strategic planning reserves, preservation grant match, and DEI training support; supervisors discussed the size of a proposed $100,000 strategic-planning placeholder and trade-offs in a tight budget year.

Supervisors questioned the $100,000 strategic-planning placeholder and asked staff to explore narrower scopes or phased approaches. Board members also asked for more detail on sponsorship line items in the DEI budget; staff said the sponsorship figure has not changed in three years and that some local events increasingly need higher support because volunteer-run organizations face rising costs.

Wells said the state’s Historic Resources Development Program typically requires a 50/50 match with at least a 25% cash match; the requested $6,750 represents the cash portion for a roughly $27,000 project. She said if the grant is awarded, consultant work would be primarily one-time and the commission expects volunteer work to complete follow-up nominations.

Supervisors asked staff to provide a breakdown of events and sponsorship costs for DEI programming and suggested reducing sponsorships before cutting training budgets. The board deferred formal votes and will consider the requests during FY2026 budget deliberations.

Ending: Staff will return with decision-package details and cost breakdowns, including proposed scopes for strategic planning and a list of events/sponsorships; supervisors signaled interest in preserving training and outreach while scrutinizing large one-time placeholders.