Mission Statement

The mission of the office of Human Rights is to enforce the County's anti-discrimination laws in housing, commercial real estate, employment, public accommodations, and intimidation. The office also provides training, public education programs, and promotes the increased understanding and tolerance among diverse groups.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY27 Operating Budget for the Office of Human Rights is $2,117,091, a decrease of $28,394 or 1.32 percent from the FY26 Approved Budget of $2,145,485. Personnel Costs comprise 85.21 percent of the budget for 11 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 11.00 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 14.79 percent of the FY27 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Effective, Sustainable Government
• Thriving Youth and Families

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY26 estimates reflect funding based on the FY26 approved budget. The FY27 and FY28 figures are performance targets based on the FY27 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY28.

Initiatives

• Completed and dedicated the Remembrance and Reconciliation Gardens outside the County Council Office Building, and established a countywide program proclaiming November as Remembrance and Reconciliation Month in partnership with community organizations.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Enhanced complaint tracking by developing a revised intake log tool and finalized updates to investigation process regulations to improve consistency and efficiency.

Program Descriptions

  Compliance

This program investigates and resolves formal complaints of worker protection violations and discrimination in employment, housing, commercial and residential real estate transactions, public accommodations, and intimidations through a formal complaint process or mediation....

  Community Mediation and Public Affairs

This program supports and promotes the Human Rights Commission and Committee Against Hate Violence, Interagency Fair Housing Coordinating Group, and the Commission on Reconciliation and Remembrance in their outreach and education efforts; partners with other local, State, and Federal offices; and conducts various forums to promote increased understanding and tolerance...

  Fair Housing

This program monitors the County's Fair Housing Ordinance through the Interagency Fair Housing Work Group in order to coordinate the activity of County departments, offices, and agencies to prevent housing discrimination; and to perform testing of housing providers. The office investigates and seeks to resolve housing discrimination complaints....

  Administration

The Office of the Director has the responsibility for the overall management and leadership of the department. This program also includes overall policy development for the office, as well as the administration of the County's anti-discrimination laws. ...