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Committee concurs with modest FY26 increase for Office of Human Rights
Summary
The Health & Human Services committee reviewed the Office of Human Rights FY26 budget, hearing from Director Stowe about restructuring and procedural changes after an OIG review; the panel concurred with the executive's 1.3% funding increase and requested follow-ups on recruitment and bilingual hiring strategies.
Chair Albinaz opened the session and invited the Office of Human Rights to present its FY26 operating budget, which the County Executive recommended be increased by $27,532, or 1.3%, over the FY25 approved level.
Director Stowe told the committee the office had adopted procedural changes following an OIG review and was working to speed case processing while expanding outreach. "This year's, the post budget, hits the, various points of our, needs for, 2026," he said, and emphasized that education and community outreach would remain part of the office's work.
Council staff (Miss Singleton) summarized the packet: the executive's general fund recommendation for the office is $2,145,485 with personnel costs of $1,834,296 and staffing of 11 positions; the requested increase consists entirely of compensation adjustments and nondiscretionary operating expenses. Committee members pressed on vacancies and recruitment: Director Stowe said two openings had been re-advertised after first-choice candidates declined and that the office will widen outreach and target bilingual candidates.
Members praised the office's improvements and agreed to concur with both staff and the executive on the recommendation. The committee asked for follow-up detail on recruitment timelines and outreach plans, especially strategies to recruit candidates with Spanish-language skills and other qualifications.
