To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Addition of 46 new FTEs, Employment and Human Services Department
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
CONSIDER accepting $4,467,249 in new, one-time revenue for CalFresh and Medi-Cal eligibility work, authorizing the Employment & Human Services Department to add 46 new FTE using new one-time, Measure X, and Net County Cost revenue in FY26/27 and transitioning to MX revenue in FY27/28 through the budget processes, as necessary, and providing guidance, as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this action will result in expenditures totaling $4,467,249 for FY26/27 (100% State and Federal).
BACKGROUND:
The Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) has updated the Board of Supervisors regarding the anticipated operational impacts of H.R.1 and the State budget on Medi-Cal and CalFresh program administration: a joint presentation with Contra Costa Health on December 16, 2025 (D.1); the County Welfare Directors Association presentation on February 3, 2026 (D.3); the Family and Human Services Committee on March 9, 2026 (D.8); a Board presentation on April 14, 2026 (D.6); and the County budget hearing on April 27, 2026 (D.1).
During the April 27 budget hearing, Dr. Marla Stuart, EHSD Director, advised the Board that the Department would return with a spending proposal if the final FY26/27 State budget included revenue increases. With the Governor’s approval of the State budget on June 29, 2026, the administration reduced the base allocations below projected by $14,460,540, due to a projected decrease in caseload. Additionally, the legislature added one-time H.R.1 funding totaling $18,927,789 in additional CalFresh and Medi-Cal allocation to support implementation of new H.R.1 and State requirements, resulting in a net increase over the Board approved FY26/27 budget of $4,467,249.
This presentation provides a summary of the new revenue and recommends a FY26/27 spending plan for Board consideration.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Not approving the expenditure proposal, including the addition of new positions, will significantly hinder EHSD’s ability to support Contra Costa County’s most vulnerable individuals and families, and to deliver to them quality services that ensure they can access benefit programs and resources to protect and empower them to achieve self-sufficiency. The County will underspend and utilize the additional funds provided by the State, which is likely to result in a delay in the timely processing of cases.