Douglas County adopts biennial language access plan, will centralize resources and bilingual inventory

Douglas County commissioners on Aug. 6 voted 5-0 to adopt the FY26-27 biennial language access plan required by Assembly Bill 266 (2023). Chief Operating Officer Kathy Lewis told the board the plan identifies language-assistance services, outlines procedures for meaningful access and was built from surveys of county directors, elected officials and a small number (19) of resident respondents.

Lewis said the resident survey showed most respondents preferred English as the primary operational language and expressed concerns about using taxpayer funds for translations; respondents also suggested alternatives such as prioritizing bilingual staff and volunteer networks. "We created a centralized resource guide and bilingual inventory so departments can share resources," Lewis said, explaining the plan focuses on time and staff training rather than immediate new dollars. The plan was submitted to the state as required and will be revisited every two years.

Commissioner Hales and others commended the emphasis on using existing resources and training rather than new budget requests. The board approved the plan with a 5-0 vote; staff said any future departmental budget requests related to language access would be brought forward during the normal budget process.