TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

Package 23,684 proposes an 8% cut to the Office of Equity and Human Rights, eliminating two full-time positions (Analyst I and Administrative Specialist II) and reducing General Fund ongoing funding by $298,858. The Office contends these cuts will impair ADA Title II compliance, weaken accommodation analysis, and compromise City-wide equity mandate enforcement. The package cites compliance risks and potential federal funding impacts.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

Cut two full-time positions: Analyst I and Administrative Specialist II (p. 143)
Total General Fund reduction: $298,858 in ongoing funding (p. 142)
General Fund Discretionary reduction: $102,034; General Fund Overhead reduction: $196,824 (p. 142)
Internal Materials and Services expense of $25,000 recommended (p. 142)
Cutting Analyst I position will negatively impact analysis and approval of accommodation requests and ADA compliance support to City Council (p. 143)
Cutting Administrative Specialist II will shift coordination and administrative responsibilities to other staff, reducing equity work capacity (p. 143)
Office states cuts risk non-compliance with ADA Title II federal law and potential loss of federal funding eligibility (p. 143)
2021 City Audit identified gaps in disability services during emergencies; only City-wide disability outreach position was discontinued by Civic Life (p. 143)

💰 $298,858 · $102,034 · $196,824 · $25,000 · 👥 2 FTE · 📋 Office of Equity and Human Rights · Analyst I position · Administrative Specialist II position · 🏛️ Office of Equity · City Administrator

23,684

Source: PDF pp. 142-144 · raw: 142 · 143 · 144

Breadcrumb: 1 City Administrator › CA1-DPs › Package Details › 23,684

23,684 - CA-Office of Equity- 8% Cut Service Area City Administrator DCA Michael Jordan Bureau Name Office of Equity Director Jeff Selby Funding Type Name Reduction Status: Recommended Package Desc Expense Recommended Total This request cuts two full time positions (FTE) and an estimated $298,858 in General Fund ongoing External Materials and Services $0 funding for the Office of Equity and Human Rights. Internal Materials and Services $25,000 Service Impacts Personnel ($323,858) ($298,858) Revenue Recommended Total General Fund Discretionary ($102,034) General Fund Overhead ($196,824) ($298,858)

To meet the 8% Cut Concept mandate, the Office would have to cut an Analyst I position and an Administrative Specialist II position. This Tier 2 cut would significantly hamper the City’s ability to serve disabled Portlanders and comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II federal law. Cutting the Administrative Specialist II position would shift coordination and administrative support responsibilities to other Equity staff, lowering their capacity to accomplish legal compliance and equity work. Cutting the Analyst I position would negatively impact the City’s ability to analyze and approve accommodation requests from community, and the Office of Equity’s ability to assist incoming City Council staff with ADA requests and accommodations. A 2021 City Audit identified gaps in the City’s efforts to serve people with disabilities during emergencies and since then, the only City-wide disability outreach position was discontinued by Civic Life. Given the incoming President’s promises to eradicate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, we must invest further in the Office of Equity to help ensure we protect the rights of people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQIA2S+ community members in our city. This staff cut will increase the frequency at which we are out of compliance and increase the length of time it takes to meet and report on compliance standards. This puts the City at risk and may impact eligibility for federal funding or meeting current federal grant agreement provisions. The City Administrator has suggested we examine equity FTE across the enterprise to determine opportunities for realigning resources to avoid cutting positions from the Office of Equity—the one equity body with a City-wide mandate to set and enforce policy. Cuts to Office of Equity positions also negatively affect equity work as an administrative function and would create additional barriers to an enterprise-wide, unified approach to equity, justice, and civil rights. Our staff is currently working on data-informed and purpose-driven decision-making tools and practices, designed to support City staff and leadership, and to improve equitable service delivery. Cutting the Administrative Specialist II position would impede progress on the Office of Equity’s ability to fulfill its City-wide equity mandate and leave an incoming Equity Officer with limited administrative support. Further staff cuts would delay implementation, constrain availability for technical support, and limit our ability to collect and share data that aids decision-making and investments, and provides accountability and transparency to community and partners. Without adequate staffing and resources, the Office and the City will not be able to do this work effectively, and the results will have negative impacts on equitable and good governance, public trust, responsiveness, and improved public services; and potential negative impact on federal funding. Equity Impacts

Cutting the Analyst I position would negatively impact the City’s ability to analyze and approve accommodation requests from community, and the Office of Equity’s ability to assist incoming City Council staff with ADA requests and accommodations. Cutting the Administrative Specialist II position would impede progress on the Office of Equity’s ability to fulfill its City-wide equity mandate and leave an incoming Equity Officer with limited administrative support. These cuts would delay implementation, constrain availability for technical support, and limit our ability to collect and share data that aids decision-making and investments, and provides accountability and transparency to community and partners. Without adequate staffing and resources, the Office and the City will not be able to do this work effectively, and the results will have negative impacts on equitable and good governance, public trust, responsiveness, and improved public services; and potential negative impact on federal funding.

Parent: Package Details · PDF: pp. 142-144