Committee concurs with county executive on modest FY26 Office of Human Rights budget

The Health and Human Services Committee of the Montgomery County Council reviewed and concurred with the county executive's FY26 operating budget recommendation for the Office of Human Rights, approving a 1.3% increase that is limited to compensation adjustments and non-discretionary operating costs.

The increase covers a recommended general fund total of $2,145,485 for FY26, with personnel costs of $1,834,296 and 11 staff positions. Council staff noted the operating line shows a decrease from FY25, and characterized the budget-equity tool as a modified SWOT rather than a numeric score.

Director Stowe told the committee the department has been restructuring operations and implementing procedural changes stemming from an OIG review that the office says have improved case processing. Stowe also described hiring activity: "we did an internal posting ... secure 1 of those positions as a promotional opportunity ... the other opening went out to the general notice ... we were unsuccessful ... both ... turn the job down" and said the department is re-posting with shared services and human resources while casting a wider recruiting net, including outreach to federal-sector candidates.

Council staff and the committee discussed vacancies and recruitment strategies, including targeting candidates with language skills to serve Montgomery County's English-as-a-second-language communities. After discussion among Chair Albinaz and committee members, Councilmember Maliki expressed support for the office's recent changes and the committee voted, without objection, to concur with both the council staff and county executive recommendations.

The committee asked the Office of Human Rights to return with status updates on recruitment and any other changes to operations that affect service delivery.