Board hears warning that First 5 funding for library 'hubs' will stop June 30; supervisors direct review of non‑mandated programs and form homeless ad hoc

First 5 El Dorado, library staff and the El Dorado County Office of Education told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 that the voter‑mandated tobacco tax funding that has supported library community “hubs” is shrinking and First 5 will not provide the same level of funding after June 30, 2025.

At stake are hub services that place navigators and family‑support staff in libraries across the county to link residents — including parents of young children and people experiencing housing insecurity — to county services. Supervisors heard data showing hub staff made thousands of referrals and hundreds of navigations in the last year and that hubs were a major route to services for low‑income families.

Nut graf: Why this matters The hubs are funded by a patchwork of state, federal and county money; First 5 was the lead funder and convenor. With the First 5 share declining, county leaders and partner agencies described plans to absorb some services, to re‑align staff where possible, and to change program levels. The board directed staff to (1) review non‑mandated programs in upcoming budget discussions and (2) create a homeless ad hoc committee to recommend how the county should preserve navigation services, address rising food need and better coordinate providers.

What presenters told the board Kathy Guerrero, executive director of First 5 El Dorado, said hubs grew over eight years and currently reach thousands of children and caregivers. She told the board that First 5 commissioners have committed funds through June 30, 2025, but that the revenue stream tied to tobacco‑tax ballot measures has shrunk over successive measures. Guerrero described the hub services as prevention‑oriented: in‑library navigators who help families complete forms, sign up for benefits and connect to housing or health resources.

Bryce Lovell, county library director, outlined what the libraries would keep if county departments stepped in: a staffed helpline (an 833 number), story‑time developmental screenings, hub “outreach days,” targeted navigation for people furthest from opportunity and co‑location of partner staff at library branches.

Elizabeth Blakemore of the El Dorado County Office of Education said her family‑specialist teams provide bilingual outreach, developmental screening, diaper and food distribution and parent–child playgroups. She said EDCO is preparing to absorb some functions but that planned staffing and program levels are still in development.

Public comment and local providers Speakers at the meeting included representatives of the El Dorado County Food Bank and other nonprofits, who urged the board to preserve the hubs because they link people to food, diapers, health care and social services. Several residents and nonprofit leaders said the library hubs are trusted access points for people who would not otherwise navigate county or health systems.

Board action After discussion, the board voted to: (1) direct the county’s CAO and departments to include a review of funding for non‑mandated programs in the budget process and (2) create a homeless ad hoc committee to examine homelessness response, including how food is distributed in the county. The motion passed 5‑0. Supervisors said the ad hoc should consider whether county staff can absorb hub services that First 5 can no longer fund and whether services should be restructured to reduce budget risk (for example, by moving some hub work into existing HHSA roles).

What’s next Staff will return with options during the budget process; the CAO will also coordinate the ad hoc committee and bring back recommendations. Department leads said they are already examining whether existing HHSA and EDCO staff can pick up parts of the hub model, and the library said it will preserve core information‑access services where it can.

Ending note Officials stressed that the county’s goal is to keep navigation services to populations most affected by poverty and instability. The board’s budget review and ad hoc work aim to recommend which hub services to sustain, alter or sunset, and how to coordinate nonprofits, the library and county departments.