Trustees reallocate FY26 surplus to shore up temporary Remedy staff; amendment extends runway into October

The Budget & Finance Committee voted unanimously on March 18 to approve a FY26 budget realignment (BF2606) that reallocated surplus funds to cover an immediate shortfall in the agency’s temporary‑staffing contract with Remedy.

Budget Chief Grace Chen told trustees the carryover appropriation that had been funding three temporary staff would run to roughly $27,000 at current burn rates (about $8,000 per week). She proposed two options to create a runway for temporary hires: Option 1 would internally reallocate $132,800 from identified surpluses (including a $28,000 HR reimbursement, $44,800 from beneficiary services contract lines and $60,000 from board legal counsel personnel surplus) to fund up to five temporary staff through Aug. 2, 2026. Option 2 would add a supplemental allocation of $93,000 to extend coverage through Oct. 26, 2026.

Trustees debated whether to approve only the immediate runway (option one) and revisit FY27 budgeting, or to adopt the longer runway now. Trustee discussion noted that the Remedy purchase order balance was approximately $29,636 (with one invoice pending $4,434) and that some contract line items (community‑based facilitators and trauma‑informed specialist) were not expected to be used in FY26 and had been released by program directors for reallocation.

Trustee Souza moved an amendment to add Option 2; the amendment passed on roll call (8–0). The main motion as amended (both Options 1 and 2) then passed by roll call (8–0). The committee authorized the administrator or designee to encumber and administer the reallocations and to return with FY27 realignment as needed.

Next steps: administration will encumber funds to the Remedy PO to avoid a service interruption and will return to the board with the FY27 realignment and recommended permanent funding for the temporary‑hire fund.