SB 1193 Discretionary Funds: County of Alameda
Updated as of 5/21/2026
Alameda County is wealthy, highly educated, and has a large tax base — but the outcomes are uneven.
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5th Wealthiest County
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7th Largest in the State
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Highest Taxed
The county performs well on income, educational attainment, and health insurance coverage, but it faces severe affordability and homelessness pressures and has documented failures in child welfare. The core question is not whether Alameda County has poverty or needs — it does — but whether a county with this level of tax base and public spending is delivering the level of transparency, urgency, and measurable results residents deserve.
Over 10 years there have been numerous reports and investigations tied to Alameda County governance, spending, services, or accountability:
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10 Civil Grand Jury annual reports,
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30+ county-related Grand Jury chapters,
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1 major State Auditor report,
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1 major DOJ investigation,
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4+ major court cases/lawsuits,
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2+ major media/internal investigations
Results were all damning to Alameda County and dismissed by the Board of Supervisors. For example, of the 2017 Grand Jury discretionary funds report, only 1 recommendation was accepted. All others were rejected and dismissed.
This is not about one old incident. It is about a pattern: Alameda County needs stronger systems for accountability, documentation, and public oversight.
Timeline of Events
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2023: Meeting with Alameda County Chief Administrative Officer
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2024: Audit Request & Approved by the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit
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2025: 7 months of County/State Auditor Review
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Sept. 2025: State Auditor Report Released with Recommendations
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2025: Requested Audit for Consolidation of Bay Area Transit
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2025: Presented Task Force on Auditor’s Findings with Alameda County
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2026: SB 1193 Introduced
Our Work Exposes Many Issues; SB 1193 is the Tip of the Iceberg.
Alameda County has:
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NO public log of discretionary funds (how much, how many) to easily navigate
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NO performance standards
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NO enforceable and competitive contracts for repeated service providers.
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NO whistleblower hotline or documentation
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NO ombudsman
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Youth facility closure, issues and lawsuit
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History of Retaliation
What the Bill Does:
The bill says discretionary funds must be spent in the open, for real public benefit, and with basic accountability.
SB 1193 brings transparency and accountability to Alameda County discretionary funds.
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Require a majority vote of the Board of Supervisors before funds are awarded
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Stop one supervisor or staff member from quietly directing public money
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Require funds to serve a clear public purpose
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Require an online public spending log showing who received money, how much, why, and any conflicts of interest
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Preventing supervisors from using discretionary funds within 90 days of their own election
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Stop awards from being rushed through special meetings or consent calendars
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Whistleblower Process Documented
Bottom line: Public money should be spent in public, with clear rules and accountability.
Bill Elements:
ONLINE LOG:
Requires the board to document and post on their website a log of appropriated discretionary funds.
- Planned & actual costs of program/project
- Spending timeline
- Purpose of the program funding
- Eligibility requirements to receive funding
- Total dollars awarded to the entity,
- Disclosures
The public can see how and why taxpayer dollars were spent.
PLACED ON CALENDAR:
- Prohibit awards of discretionary funds from taking place at a special meeting or on the consent calendar
- Promotes good governance
- Help nonprofits and community organizations to better plan their programs
- Identify opportunities for collaboration
- Aligns their efforts with public needs
- Items can be placed within 72 hours
This visibility helps deter corruption, reduces waste, and encourages more responsible decision-making by members of the board.
ELECTION WINDOW:
Supervisors running for re-election cannot take actions related to spending discretionary funds 90 days before an election.
May vote only if the award benefits the entire county, or other districts (not their own).
Avoid conflicts of interest & protect fair elections.
EXCEPTIONS:
Discretionary funds awarded to Alameda Health System will be exempt
(to avoid interruptions in county health services.)
Debunking Misinformation on SB1193
SB 1193 Will Block Nonprofits from Receiving Funds
The bill does not eliminate or prohibit any discretionary funding. It requires that awards be publicly voted on and posted online. Nonprofits currently receiving funds in good faith will continue to receive them.
Alameda County Already Has Adequate Safeguards
2016–2017 Civil Grand Jury "Unchecked Spending: Alameda County Board of Supervisors Discretionary Funds" documented process failures and showed millions in unspent and questioned discretionary balances.
This Bill Brings Alameda County (the 5th Wealthiest) up to standards
SB 1193 is based on multiple counties’ current process. (Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego, and San Bernardino have similar transparency requirements). Alameda County is the 5th wealthiest county in California and needs to perform at state standards which it has repeatedly failed to reach. It faces severe affordability and homelessness pressures and has documented failures in child welfare as reports and investigations have shown. Alameda County needs stronger systems for accountability, documentation, and public oversight.
Documentation
California State Auditor Report:
US Department of Justice:
Lawsuits:
- Hayward Alameda County Transitional Center Lawsuit (Assessment Center in Hayward where children went missing and were knowingly being exposed to and/or coerced into drug use, assaults and other forms of violence, sex trafficking and prostitution.)
- Martinez v. County of Alameda, Case No. 3:20-cv-06570 (Violation of Americans with Disabilities Act)
- Lee v. County of Alameda (Wrongful Termination Lawsuit)
- Sophia Mason Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Alameda County
- Mariah Mustafa Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Alameda County
- Alameda County Taxpayer's Association v. County of Alameda (2025)
and many more...
Voting History
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Unanimous
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Bi-partisan support
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Townhall Video to be published soon...........