Tompkins County adopts framework to ‘institutionalize equity’ across county operations

Tompkins County’s legislature on March 4 adopted a countywide framework aimed at embedding equity into government operations, directing departments to develop measurable “equity indicators” and to report progress publicly.

Charlene Holmes, the county’s chief equity and diversity officer, presented the inaugural Institutionalizing Equity Report, which the legislature adopted on Feb. 18 and discussed at the March 4 meeting. Holmes described the report as a practical roadmap — not only aspirational language — that aligns with the county strategic plan’s organizational-excellence goal and requires departments to identify baselines and measurable indicators for service access, workforce training, and resource allocation.

Holmes said the report grew from extensive…