County updates committee on guaranteed basic income pilots; evaluations planned and participant engagement strategies detailed

Deputy County Executive Key Lee and program staff briefed the Finance & Government Operations Committee on Jan. 20, 2026, on the county’s guaranteed basic income pilots.

Key Lee said the county has completed one GBI program and currently has four underway; the earliest pilot will end in August 2026 and the latest in September 2028. "Of the 803 participants who were enrolled in the 4 GBI programs, 757 are still participating," the report said.

Staff described evaluation plans and participant engagement strategies. County officials said the current pilots include comparison groups and that they are working with the public health department’s research and evaluation team to conduct randomized controlled trials for each pilot. An outreach specialist explained efforts to sustain participation—two dedicated community outreach specialists provide continuity, proactive phone check‑ins, and optional quarterly workshops shaped by participants. "Everything is optional," staff said; engagement relies on building trust and providing technical support for surveys.

Supervisors discussed possible future expansions (e.g., pregnant people with high‑risk pregnancies or older adults) and asked for both qualitative and quantitative evaluation results after pilots conclude. The committee voted to receive the GBI report.