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Q&A
Council member questions OMB director about funding for Commission on Racial Equity
1:53:25
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111 sec
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams inquires about the lack of additional funding for the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE) despite their request for five additional staff lines. Director Jacques Jiha responds by outlining the budget increases and investments made for CORE in recent fiscal years.
- CORE's budget increased to $2.4 million in FY25 and $4.008 million in FY26
- $429,000 was added for staff in the baseline
- Jiha confirms that CORE is exempted from the hiring freeze
Nantasha M. Williams
1:53:25
Thank you.
1:53:28
The Commission on Racial Equity requested funding for five additional staff lines so that they could fulfill their mandates.
1:53:35
These lines were included in the plan and CORE continues to be understaffed.
1:53:41
Why wasn't the additional funding provided in the plan for CORE staffing needs?
Jacques Jiha
1:53:50
We've been increasing the budget.
1:53:53
We've been working with CORE.
1:53:55
We added $2,000,000 in fiscal year twenty six and $1,800,000 in new OTPS funding during the November plan.
1:54:04
In addition, we added $429,000 for staff in the baseline in the general plan for supplemental staffing.
1:54:16
Their budget right now is like $2,400,000 in fiscal year twenty five and 04/2008 in '26.
1:54:23
So we've been making, you know, investment into that agency.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:54:31
So one of the issues of course is this two for one hire thing.
1:54:35
So are you willing to work with them to exempt them so they can quickly fill the empty staff line and then I know they also requested to roll over the leftover funds to allow them to actually hire GC and a communications consultant to fulfill some of their mandates.
1:54:57
So will you allow them to also roll over their funds?
Jacques Jiha
1:55:02
We've been working with them and from what I understand they are exempted from the freeze.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:55:06
You said they are?
Jacques Jiha
1:55:07
Yeah.
1:55:08
Okay.
1:55:08
But again I will have a discussion with staff but as far as I know they are exempted from the freeze.