To: Board of Supervisors
From: Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Report Title: APPROVE Consideration of $375,000 in Measure X funds for Refugee Resettlement Services on March 11, 2025
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE consideration of a Measure X allocation of $375,000 for Refugee Resettlement Services at the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors on March 11, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval to discuss a new Measure X allocation for Refugee Resettlement Services would have no immediate fiscal impact, though subsequent approval of a budget amendment of approximately $375k plus overhead would reduce the one-time Measure X fund balance of $1.5M available.
BACKGROUND:
Measure X dollars have typically been allocated during budget hearings or other regular meetings specifically called to allocate Measure X funds.
Unusual or unanticipated situations can arise which may justify the immediate distribution of Measure X dollars outside of the regular Measure X allocation cycle. One such instance has arisen on behalf of Refugee Relief agencies (email attached) and the Board of Supervisors is now being asked whether to consider an off-cycle request for Measure X dollars at its next regularly scheduled meeting, which is on March 11, 2025.
The need for refugee resettlement services is an unanticipated, urgent need. The federal government issued a stop-work order on all open cases in the Refugee Admissions Program, and there have been no stays on this action. There are efforts in Washington D.C. being made to receive a waiver through Secretary of State Marco Rubio or potentially restore funding through a court ordered injunction. To date, no relief has been granted.
Not only was all travel into the United States by refugees banned under this stop-work order, but the funding for any further resettlement services for those already in the United States has been cut off. Currently in Contra Costa, 125 individuals live here and are in the process of resettlement, aided by 3 different non-profit agencies: Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay (JFCSEB), Church World Services Northern California (CWS NorCal) and International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The cost for these resettlement services is $3,000 per person, with a total of $375,000 in one time money being sought. Administration of the program, likely through the Employment and Human Services Department, would increase the total amount of Measure X allocation slightly higher for overhead costs.
If the Refugee Relief agencies have their federal funding restored, any Measure X funds drawn down would be reimbursed.
Serving the immigrant and refugee population in Contra Costa County was recommended and prioritized in the Needs Assessment provided by the Measure X Community Advisory Body, and previously funded by the Board of Supervisors.
A determination that this issue be brought back for discussion by the Board of Supervisors at the next regularly scheduled meeting on March 11, 2025 would need to be approved by a 3/5 vote. Approval of a new appropriation would require a 4/5 vote.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Board of Supervisors would not consider a new Measure X allocation for Refugee Resettlement Services at its next meeting on March 11, 2025.