To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: Measure X Budget Reallocation for SAFE Center
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE Budget Amendment No. BDA-25-00073 authorizing the County Administrator to make necessary budget adjustments on behalf of the Employment and Human Services Department based on Board direction for Measure X revenue allocations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Measure X revenues and expenditure appropriations under review have already been budgeted by prior Board of Supervisors actions; no net fiscal impact would be anticipated by reallocating prior appropriations.
BACKGROUND:
On January 28, 2025, the Board of Supervisors received public comment in support of the establishment of an Immigrant Services Center in Contra Costa County. Support of the formation of a center is in response to the news and events across Contra Costa County that affect the immigrant community. Supervisor Ken Carlson assumed the lead on this topic and assembled a core team to discuss the formation of the Services & Access For Everyone (SAFE) Center, formerly known as the WISH Center.
On April 9, 2025, Supervisor Carlson hosted a countywide provider convening where over 50 different community-based organizations and community partners gathered to learn more about the SAFE Center and to gauge community interest. Based on meetings and discussions with the core group and community, the SAFE Center would start as a three-year pilot program that would function like the Family Justice Center, with the opportunity to grow and sustain itself long-term via philanthropic funding and grants.
At the FY25-26 Recommended Budget Hearing on April 28-29, 2025 and budget adoption on May 20, 2025, the Board of Supervisors directed a total $5M appropriation to the Employment and Human Services Department for the SAFE Center, comprised of a reallocation of $1.3M from Measure X in current fiscal year funds, $200k reallocation from the Measure X Youth Center allocation in FY25-26, and use of $3.5M from “COVID-19 FEMA Reserve” assigned General Fund fund balance. As requested by the Board of Supervisors, the attached Budget Amendment reallocates the $1.3M in unspent funds from various Measure X funded programs in the current fiscal year.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The departmental budgets would not reflect the allocations and appropriation adjustments directed by the Board.