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Commission authorizes county participation in ICMA economic mobility community of practice; grant will fund planning not cash assistance
Summary
Douglas County commissioners authorized staff on May 28 to accept a $24,000 ICMA subgrant that will fund county participation in a national economic mobility community of practice to study options such as a guaranteed income pilot or a childcare scholarship fund.
Douglas County commissioners on May 28 authorized the deputy county administrator to sign a subgrant agreement with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) that will enroll the county in an economic mobility community of practice funded in part by the Gates Foundation.
Jill (staff) told the board the $24,000 subgrant is intended to support planning, peer learning and work‑plan development; it does not, on its own, fund a guaranteed income pilot or direct cash payments to residents. The county presented two possible focus areas in its ICMA application: further study and development of a guaranteed income pilot for a priority population (single female‑headed households) and support for a childcare scholarship fund.
“We will not have the capacity, or ability to implement that guaranteed income pilot with this grant,” Jill said, describing the award as an opportunity to learn from other jurisdictions, refine the county’s proposed work plan and identify funders or partners for implementation. She said county staff expects the cohort work to concentrate on advancing the guaranteed income idea while exploring alternatives based on community input.
Commissioner Anderson asked whether recent state legislation (HB 2101) requiring review of guaranteed income programs would affect the county’s planning. Jill answered that the county’s current plan is to seek private foundation funding for any pilot and that HB 2101 would apply only if taxpayer dollars were used, in which case state review and notification requirements would apply.
Members of the public and community partners spoke during the item’s public comment period. John Imbs urged caution, noting the small size of the subgrant and warning that county staff time is taxpayer funded; Peyton Smith of IBEW Local 304 and other union representatives urged the county to consider the broader impacts on local providers and workers when exploring options.
The motion to authorize the deputy county administrator to sign the subgrant agreement with ICMA was moved by Commissioner Reed, seconded by Commissioner Kelly, and passed 5‑0. Commissioners asked staff to return with progress reports and the work plan generated through the cohort process.
