The voters passed Measure X, a ½ cent sales tax levied countywide (exempting food sales), in November 2020. Collection of the sales tax will begin in April 2021 and will be available for distribution in FY 2021-22.
A needs assessment was performed in 2019, and the following services were identified as high priorities:
- Fire and Emergency Services
- Hospital and Community Health
- Early Childhood and Youth Services
- Senior Services
- Safety Net Services; e.g., expanding access to shelter, expanding food security, homelessness assistance programs, etc.
Now that the measure has passed, it is appropriate to bring together community members and various other stakeholders as members of a Community Advisory Committee to make recommendations on Measure X expenditures.
The stakeholder group that met prior to putting Measure X on the ballot recently held discussions as to the makeup of an Oversight Committee; however, a Community Advisory Committee must first be appointed in order to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on how some of the funds should be allocated based on the needs assessment. An Oversight Committee will be created by the beginning of the FY 2021-22 (August 2021) so that as tax proceeds are received and allocated, the Oversight Committee can meet on a quarterly basis to review revenues and expenditures to determine that funds were appropriately received and spent. This Board Order specifically deals with creating the Community Advisory Committee at this time; the process for appointing the Oversight Committee will be discussed in May or June 2021.
Amount of Revenue to be Allocated:
- The Community Advisory Committee shall make budget allocation recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for 50% of the annual revenue received under Measure X based on Measure X priorities/needs as identified in the most recent Needs Assessment
- The Board of Supervisors shall make budget allocations for 45% of the annual revenue received under Measure X in an open transparent process with public input and comment and based on Measure X priorities/principles and as identified in the most recent Needs Assessment; and
- 5% of the annual revenue be set aside in a special interest-bearing reserve account for unanticipated needs that arise during a given fiscal year. These funds could only be expended by a four fifth's (4/5th’s)`vote of the Board of Supervisors.
Responsibilities: The Community Advisory Committee’s main responsibilities:
- Overseeing an annual assessment of community needs, focusing primarily on the priority areas identified in this year’s Needs Assessment, including emergency response (fire/medical), health care, safety net services, preventative care, affordable housing, and supports for early childhood, youth, families, and seniors.
- Creating detailed priority lists of the top ten service gaps (county- and community-provided) based on the results from the needs assessment.
- Using the assessment to make general funding priority recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on 50% of the revenue generated by Measure X.
- Providing an annual report on the outcomes and impact of allocated funds.
- The committee shall initially meet as needed to develop a recommended annual budget allocation plan, and thereafter shall meet quarterly.
Membership: The Community Advisory Committee shall be composed of 17 individuals and its membership should represent broad and diverse voices, perspectives and expertise, including but not exclusive to: budget justice advocacy, children’s services, community health, consumer advocacy, faith leadership, senior services, fire and public safety protection, housing and homelessness, labor union representation, legal advocacy, local businesses, mental health services, non-partisan civic organizations, policy organizations, public health, racial justice and equity, safety net services, senior services, substance use services, taxpayers, and youth services.
- Committee members should have expertise in an area outlined above or that is otherwise in accordance with the priorities set by the ballot measure and needs assessment.
- Representation on the committee shall be from community-based organizations and residents from across the county who have received county- and community-provided services in the areas identified.
- Committee members shall either live or work in Contra Costa County, with a majority being residents of the County.
Appointment Process: The County will solicit applications to fill the 17 member committee. Applications shall be referred to the Board Finance Committee which shall make recommendations to the full Board of Supervisors on appointments to the Community Advisory Committee. The Board shall make every effort to insure that there is representation from the broadest cross-section of stakeholders as described in the “Membership” section above, as well as geographic, racial and ethnic representation reflecting the County’s diversity.
Terms: The initial members of the Community Advisory Committee shall serve staggered terms of two or three years, and subsequent appointments serving three-year terms, with a maximum of six years served consecutively by any member.
Speakers: Daniel Espinoza; Allie, Healthy and Active Before 5; Roxanna Criogarza; Melivin Willis, City of Richmond; Yehido Lieberman, Pleasant Hill; Ruth Hernandez, Executitve Director First 5 Contra Costa; Catherine Wally; Marianna Moore, Budget Justice Coalition; Joe, SEIU 2015; Hector, Ensuring Opportunity Campaign; Dan Geiger, Human Services Alliance, Budget Justice Coalition; Wendy, Leadership Council; Francisco Torres, ACCE; Josh Anijar, Executive Director Contra Costa Labor Council; Laura Scheckler, Community Clinic Consortium; Yen Do, SEIU 1021; GIgi Crowder, Black Lives Matter Too;
Written commentary received from Gretchen Tofflemire; Jan Warren (attached).
ADOPTED the recommendations with the following amendments:
Under Amount of Revenue to be Allocated it would read:
1) The Community Advisory Committee shall make general priorities recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for 95% of the annual revenue received under Measure X. These recommendations would include the highest priorities and needs for expenditure from Measure X revenue based on the most recent or updated Needs Assessment, and shall not be specific budget allocations.
2) 5% of the annual revenue be set aside in a special interest-bearing reserve account for unanticipated needs that arise during a given fiscal year. These funds could only be expended by a four-fifith’s (4/5th’s)`vote of the Board of Supervisors;
Under Responsibilities bullet number three shall now read: Using the assessment to make general funding priority recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on 95% of the revenue generated by Measure X;
Under Membership bullet 2 would now read: Representation on the committee shall be from community-based and labor organizations, and residents from across the county who have knowledge and understanding of county services;
and FURTHER DIRECTED that his Advisory Committee be a Brown Act committee that is staffed by the County Administrators Office.