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Alameda County delays Measure W LIHEAP allocation to Spectrum for revised scope after federal funding update
Summary
After a county update that federal LIHEAP money will be released this month, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to return a proposed $3 million Measure W allocation for Spectrum Community Services to a future meeting for a revised scope of work; the item will be agendized Dec. 9 for further action.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 voted to return for reconsideration a proposed $3,000,000 Measure W allocation for Spectrum Community Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), after staff said federal LIHEAP funding is being released and may affect local allocations.
County legislative staff told the board that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to release $3.7 billion under special authority by the end of the month, and that the state’s FY26 allocation methodology shifts funds toward regions with more extreme cold weather. Social Services Agency Director Andrea Ford said the board’s prior action to allocate Measure W funds to Spectrum was contingent on a reduction in federal funding.
“At the time the board approved the contingency, we expected reduced federal disbursements,” Ford said. “With federal funding now stable, the scope of services supported by the additional $3,000,000 in Measure W funding may change.”
Spectrum Community Services, the county’s LIHEAP provider, urged the board to proceed. Laura Calvert, Spectrum’s executive director, said the agency has helped more than 6,000 residents with LIHEAP in 2025 but is turning away roughly 70% of applicants because federal funding has not met local need. “We are concerned about not knowing what that timing is gonna be and having that gap,” Calvert said, asking the county to expedite contracting and advanced payments before Dec. 31.
Board members debated whether Measure W funds should be held in reserve to backfill any future state allocation cuts or used immediately to expand utility assistance and weatherization. Supervisor Marquez and Supervisor Miley both said they favored making funds available for weatherization and other supports that reduce households’ long-term energy burden; others sought explicit assurances that any revised scope would comply with Measure W essential-services criteria.
Supervisor Marquez moved to bring item 16 back to the board’s next regular meeting with a recommended, revised scope consistent with the Measure W guidelines; the motion was seconded by Supervisor Fortunato Bass and carried on a roll call (Ayes: Supervisor Marquez, Supervisor Tam, Supervisor Miley, Supervisor Fortunato Bass; President Halbert excused).
Next steps: staff will return with a proposed, revised scope of services and payment terms for the Measure W allocation on Dec. 9 so the board can decide whether to approve the allocation, adjust the scope (for example, prioritizing weatherization versus direct utility payments), or reserve the funds pending final state allocations.
Votes and procedural note: the board emphasized that the original allocation was contingent on reduced federal funding; staff asked the board for direction now that federal funds are being released and that the state’s regional allocation methodology may lower Alameda County’s share.
