Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice gets modest FY26 increase; committee advances recommended budget
Loading...
Summary
The County Executive’s recommended FY26 operating budget for the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) increases by $108,766 (6.94%)—primarily compensation adjustments—and the committee recommended forwarding the budget to full council.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee recommended the County Executive’s FY26 operating budget for the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ), which reflects a recommended increase of $108,766 (6.94%) largely for compensation adjustments and nondiscretionary operating costs.
Staff said the Office’s FY26 recommended budget totals $1,000,676 with personnel costs of $1,438,211 and staffing of 8.5 full‑time equivalents. The packet includes an operating budget equity tool analysis (OBET) summarized as a modified SWOT analysis that identifies strengths and opportunities and did not recommend reductions for the department.
Mindy Singleton (presenter) and Office staff said the Office would continue existing work with the current staffing levels and use operating dollars for vendor contracts and technical assistance as needed. The office noted it had provided OBET feedback to the largest departments and is planning follow‑up debriefs on tool usability after the budget season.
Committee members asked about OBET communication and which entities are required to complete OBET: staff clarified that the executive and legislative branches participate in the OBET process while the judicial branch, MCPS, WSSC and Park and Planning are not required in the same way. The committee recorded a recommendation to move the executive’s FY26 ORESJ budget to full council.
