Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is to enforce consumer protection laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business acts or practices to ensure a fair marketplace for consumers and businesses. Activities include complaint resolution, business registration, law enforcement, education, legislation, advocacy, and outreach to vulnerable consumers.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY26 Operating Budget for the Office of Consumer Protection is $3,007,804, an increase of $168,255 or 5.93 percent from the FY25 Approved Budget of $2,839,549. Personnel Costs comprise 96.57 percent of the budget for 19 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 18.00 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 3.43 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
• A Growing Economy
• Thriving Youth and Families

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable). 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.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Established the Permit Review and Early Protection (PREP) program to proactively identify unregistered home sellers through permit reviews and provide education to ensure compliance and consumer protection.

• Enhanced the Office's ability to resolve new home construction disputes, strengthen investigations, and ensure builder compliance.

• Launched the Consumer Connection podcast to inform residents about scams, consumer rights, and smart purchases through expert discussions.
• Established a Scams Workgroup to enhance consumer education and awareness of emerging fraud tactics. The initiative will equip residents with the knowledge and resources to recognize, prevent, and respond to scams effectively.
• Conducted 22 in-person and virtual outreach and educational events in FY25 including related to home improvement, identify theft prevention, scam prevention, and more.

Program Descriptions

  Consumer Protection

The Consumer Protection program is a law enforcement function established in 1971 responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business acts to ensure fairness and integrity in the marketplace for consumers and businesses. The program is responsible for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints, educating consumers and...