Board approves several administrative and funding actions: auditor designation, grant augmentation, Measure X housing allocations and Head Start recruitment

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted on multiple administrative and funding matters at its April 15 meeting, taking steps on interim staffing, homelessness funding and early childhood program rules. Key outcomes included a temporary designation in the Auditor‑Controller’s office, a grant augmentation for a sober‑living innovation project, formal approval of Measure X housing fund allocations that include legal services dollars, and the Head Start recruitment/selection criteria for the coming program year.

The key votes and outcomes

- Auditor‑Controller designation: The board designated Assistant County Auditor‑Controller Harjeet (Hajj) Nahal to temporarily discharge the duties of the Auditor‑Controller while the county conducts an expanded recruitment. The board asked Human Resources to engage a broader recruitment effort, including using an outside recruiter, and directed staff to return with recruitment materials. The board clarified that the designation is interim and that any permanent appointment would follow legal residency and other requirements.

- Support for Recovery grant augmentation: The board approved a $65,000 augmentation to a Measure X Innovation Fund grant originally awarded to Support for Recovery. The agency requested the extra funds after learning the Fair Labor Standards Act prevented volunteer counselors from performing work that would otherwise be paid, creating a budget gap that threatened the program’s gender‑segregated sober living model. The augmentation passed unanimously.

- Measure X housing allocations (consent calendar, item C7): The board approved the consent calendar, which included action C7: allocating $4,096,876 in Measure X housing funds across 14 homelessness‑related providers and an additional $1,000,000 specifically to Bay Area Legal Aid for rental assistance and legal services. County staff explained the Measure X funding leverages state and federal dollars in prior projects and is aimed at prevention and housing stability.

- Head Start selection and recruitment criteria: The board approved the Head Start program’s FY 2025‑26 selection priorities and recruitment plan as presented by Employment and Human Services; the policy council had already approved the plan on March 19. Priorities include children in foster care or Child Protective Services (CPS) cases, children with disabilities (Head Start requires at least 10% enrollment), and low‑income families; the county also affirmed outreach goals to maintain required enrollment rates.

What supervisors said and next steps: Supervisors emphasized speed and transparency on the recruitment for the Auditor‑Controller position and asked HR to return with a more robust candidate search before making any permanent appointment. On homelessness funding, several supervisors and speakers during public comment stressed continued support for rental assistance and tenant legal services as cost‑effective prevention against homelessness. For Head Start, staff will implement the approved recruitment criteria; the county will also continue to monitor federal guidance after recent federal restructuring that affected the regional Head Start office.

Votes at a glance: all four formal actions passed unanimously.

Public comment and context: Public comment informed the votes in two ways. Housing advocates and legal services representatives urged the county not to cut rental assistance and to continue funding tenant legal services; these comments preceded and framed the discussion of the Measure X funding. Several community members also urged quick action on the African American Holistic Wellness hub (a separate agenda item) and on other relief efforts during the meeting.

Why this matters: The actions move forward short‑term funding for homelessness prevention programs, preserve continuity in the county’s finance office while HR pursues a broader search, and establish Head Start priority rules that will govern early education enrollment. Each action affects service delivery and administration for vulnerable residents across Contra Costa County.