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Board approves MOU framework to stabilize county veteran services and schedules quarterly reviews
Summary
Following months of dialogue with veterans'community leaders, the county and Veterans Service Office agreed on a memorandum of understanding clarifying roles and administrative support; the board directed implementation starting July 1 and quarterly reviews, and asked staff to return with recommendations by midyear and by May 2027.
Santa Cruz County supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to implement a memorandum of understanding designed to clarify governance and rebuild trust between county departments and local veterans'community organizations.
After a three-month collaborative review, county staff, local veterans'service leaders and the Veterans Service Office (VSO) recommended a written MOU that preserves the program authority of the VSO while ensuring compliance with federal, state and county requirements and maintaining administrative support from the county. "The intention with our collaboration on this governance is to begin the process of showing the best circumstance for our county veteran service officer office," said Dave Ramos, managing director of the Veterans Memorial Building, speaking with veterans and county staff at the hearing.
The board voted to implement the MOU effective July 1, 2026; to hold quarterly meetings chaired by the CEO to review operations and build trust; and to receive a progress report at the county midyear budget review with a final recommendation on long-term governance by May 2027.
Veteran leaders and former VSO staff attended and described the VSO's role in connecting veterans to earned benefits and local supports. County leaders said the MOU is intended as a near-term governance structure that preserves the VSO's ability to lead veteran programs while making administrative roles and responsibilities explicit.
What happens next: the county will implement the agreed MOU July 1, begin quarterly review meetings and return to the board with updates at midyear and by May 2027. Staff also pledged to provide clearer data on veteran clients who also receive human-services benefits to inform any future governance changes.
Actions: The board directed implementation of the MOU starting July 1, requested quarterly CEO-led reviews and asked staff, HSD and veterans leadership to return with recommendations by midyear (budget) and no later than May 2027; vote 5-0.
