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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.

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Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Office of Human Rights is $2,145,485, an increase of $27,532 or 1.30 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $2,117,953. Personnel Costs comprise 85.50 percent of the budget for 11 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 11.60 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 14.50 percent of the FY26 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

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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 FY25 estimates reflect funding based on the FY25 approved budget. The FY26 and FY27 figures are performance targets based on the FY26 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY27.

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Initiatives

  • Increase public outreach by developing a print and social media marketing campaign to boost public engagement on the Housing Justice Act and other County laws.

  • Collaborate with the Remembrance and Reconciliation Commission and community partners to create the reconciliation program for the community. The Commission and the Department of General Services are working on the completion of the historical marker site at the County Council Office Building.

  • Increase public engagement on illegal lending practices and banking regulation compliance and enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

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Innovations and Productivity Improvements

  • Developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which established regulations for case processing and investigations.

  • Partnered with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a new case management system to better manage employment cases and improve efficacy in the complaint process.



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....

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  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...

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  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....

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  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. ...

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Budget Trends
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Program Contacts

Contact James Stowe of the Office of Human Rights at 240-777-8490 or Alicia Singh of the Office of Management and Budget at 240-777-2780 for more information regarding this department's operating budget.

Related Links
Budget Summary
TitleActual
FY24
Budget
FY25
Estimate
FY25
Recommended
FY26
%Chg
Bud/Rec
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
Salaries and Wages1011141.001387898.00 1259863.00 1440030.003.8
Employee Benefits271645.00358854.00 331661.00 394268.009.9
County General Fund Personnel Costs1282786.001746752.00 1591524.00 1834298.005.0
Operating Expenses227531.00371201.00 321201.00 311187.00-16.2
County General Fund Expenditures1510317.002117953.00 1912725.00 2145485.001.3
PERSONNEL
Full-Time11.0011.00 11.00 11.000.0
Part-Time0.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
FTEs11.6011.60 11.60 11.600.0
REVENUES
EEOC Reimbursement54500.0054700.00 54700.00 54700.000.0
Miscellaneous Revenues12078.000.00 0.00 0.000.0
County General Fund Revenues66578.0054700.00 54700.00 54700.000.0
FY26 Recommended Changes
TitleExpendituresFTEs
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
FY25 ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION211795311.60
Other Adjustments (with no service impacts)
Increase Cost: FY26 Compensation Adjustment656370.00
Increase Cost: Annualization of FY25 Compensation Increases377270.00
Increase Cost: Motor Pool Adjustment82280.00
Increase Cost: Retirement Adjustment57640.00
Increase Cost: Printing and Mail Adjustment22960.00
Decrease Cost: Annualization of FY25 Personnel Costs-215820.00
Decrease Cost: Professional Services [Administration]-705380.00
FY26 RECOMMENDED214548511.60
Program Summary
Program NameFY25 APPR
Expenditures
FY25 APPR
FTEs
FY26 REC
Expenditures
FY26 REC
FTEs
Administration5354881.005358911.00
Community Mediation and Public Affairs579090.50628650.50
Compliance14155709.0014292789.00
Fair Housing1089861.101174511.10
Total211795311.60214548511.60
Funding Parameter Items ($000s)
TitleFY26FY27FY28FY29FY30FY31
COUNTY GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES
FY26 Recommended2145.0000002145.0000002145.0000002145.0000002145.0000002145.000000
No inflation or compensation change is included in outyear projections.
Labor Contracts0.0000003.0000003.0000003.0000003.0000003.000000
These figures represent the estimated annualized cost of general wage adjustments, service increments, and other negotiated items.
Subtotal Expenditures2145.0000002148.0000002148.0000002148.0000002148.0000002148.000000