Health committee advances Measure C expenditure plan, boosts violence-prevention funding

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors Health Committee voted Oct. 27 to send a proposed three‑year Measure C safety‑net expenditure plan to the full Board for approval on Nov. 18, approving an increase in violence‑prevention funding and asking staff to continue exploring stipends for citizen oversight committee members.

Health department presenter Lisa Erickson outlined a plan that uses both accrued revenue (about $30 million) and projected annual revenue (about $6 million) and establishes a three‑year funding cycle. ‘‘We’ve increased that line item again, by approximately 1,000,000 from approximately 2,000,000 to 3,000,000,’’ Erickson said, describing the change to the violence‑prevention line and noting the reserve would fall to roughly $6,000,000 after the adjustment.

Why it matters: committee members said concentrating funding on proven, measurable interventions will improve outcomes and avoid diffuse spending. Staff recommended that any annual Measure C receipts above the $6,000,000 projection be directed to the violence‑prevention strategy up to an additional $1,000,000 in a year, with amounts beyond that placed into the reserve.

The committee also addressed a separate proposal to provide stipends for members of the Measure A, C and W citizen oversight committees. Erickson said the committees do not currently receive stipends and staff ‘‘recommend[] not to provide stipends at this time’’ while they coordinate further with the County Administrator’s Office and Auditor on countywide impacts. Chair Supervisor Miley and other members expressed support for exploring a modest stipend, with Miley saying she personally believes ‘‘a $100 stipend is a good amount’’ as an incentive given the work and meeting frequency.

Action taken: Supervisor Dan moved to forward the expenditure plan and recommendations to the full Board and to continue exploring a stipend for oversight committee members; Supervisor Miley seconded the motion. The committee recorded two aye votes and approved forwarding the item to the Board’s Nov. 18 meeting.

What’s next: staff will include the committee’s guidance in the November Board letter and continue outreach and RFP planning for the violence‑prevention strategy. The oversight committee and staff will further analyze stipend impacts and be prepared to report back prior to the full Board hearing.

Sources and attribution: quotes and details are drawn from the Oct. 27 Health Committee meeting presentation and exchanges with county staff (Lisa Erickson) and supervisors. Public comment on the Measure C item was nil at the committee meeting.

Ending: The Measure C expenditure plan will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 with the Health Committee’s recommendation and the staff follow‑up on stipend analysis.