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Tompkins County adopts Institutionalizing Equity Report to guide departmental measures and tracking
Summary
The county committee adopted a 2025 equity framework that asks departments to set equity indicators, collect data and report progress; the plan includes training, bystander response work and support for MWBE outreach.
Tompkins County’s Government Operations Committee on Feb. 6 adopted the Institutionalizing Equity Report 2025, a county framework that asks departments to create equity indicators, collect baseline data and include targets in 2025 work plans.
The report, presented by Charlene Holmes, the county’s chief equity and diversity officer, proposes department-specific equity indicators, regular data collection and strategic interventions to close disparities in services, hiring and resource allocation. Holmes asked the committee to adopt the report “as the official framework for embedding equity at Tompkins County’s operations” and to support resource allocation for implementation.
Committee members discussed the national debate over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. Legislator Mike asked about any national or state-level rollback of DEI that could affect county efforts. Holmes said New York State has not retracted executive orders supporting DEI and that she has researched federal guidance and state programs, noting a shift in some places toward race-neutral practices that focus on systemic structures rather than individuals. Holmes told the committee: “If we take a very strategic and structured approach, we’ll be postured to work within the nuances and the differences that we’re seeing at the state and the federal level.”
Committee members praised the report’s data-driven approach. Holmes said departments will select whether to report indicators annually, biannually or quarterly and that the county will provide support to department heads. The committee approved the resolution (ID 13082) by roll call; Susan moved and Rich seconded the motion.
Holmes also reported on outreach and implementation steps: the county’s JEDI office will present an MWBE award at an Upstate New York conference and will develop bystander-training for county staff to respond to discrimination or harassment incidents. The committee asked for an annual follow-up report on equity indicators.
