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County employees and advocates press board for higher pay, staffing and restored housing and behavioral‑health funding
Summary
At public comment, county employees, union leaders and housing advocates urged supervisors to prioritize staffing, fair pay and funding for supportive housing and behavioral‑health programs as the board opened public hearings on the FY 2026–27 proposed budget.
Dozens of public‑comment speakers told the Alameda County Board of Supervisors that the proposed budget must do more to address staff vacancies, low pay and funding cuts to community programs.
Speakers included county frontline workers, SEIU shop stewards, union leaders and housing advocates who asked the board to prioritize wages and staffing to avoid service disruptions. "Child welfare is in crisis because we cannot retain workers," said Hannah Joy Wersching, a child welfare worker and SEIU member, who described high caseloads and staff turnover that she said undermine service delivery.
Anya Kushwa of Restore Oakland and other housing advocates urged funding for the Supportive Housing Community Land Alliance (SHCLA), saying the group’s contract shows zero dollars in the proposed fiscal 2026–27 budget. "Looking at this budget proposal, SHCLA is receiving $0 in the fiscal year 26 to 27 contract," Kushwa said, and asked the board to allocate at least $2 million to the trust and to expand mental‑health diversion and rental subsidy programs.
Union representatives and county staff also called for clearer accounting of vacancy savings and overtime. John Lindsay Pullen of the American Friends Service Committee and the CareFirst ad hoc committee urged a deeper review of funded vacant positions and reserve funds, saying that, according to the CAO, there were 290 funded vacant positions at Santa Rita Jail in September and that larger sheriff’s‑office savings could be found.
Kathy Reeves, a legal secretary in the public defender’s office and SEIU shop steward, said county frontline employees have seen shrinking pay and benefits and urged the board to enact competitive wages so staff can remain in Alameda County.
What the board will do: Board members acknowledged the concerns and asked staff for more detailed vacancy and overtime information; the CAO and chair announced additional meetings and hearings, including a June 2 presentation on Proposition 1 and joint updates on May Revise impacts to be scheduled prior to adoption.
The public‑comment period closed after the board moved and passed a motion to accept the recommended budget for review and to schedule hearings beginning June 18.
