SB 1193 Discretionary Funds: County of Alameda
Updated as of 5/14/2026
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 10 Civil Grand Jury annual reports, 30+ county-related Grand Jury chapters, 1 major State Auditor report, 1 major DOJ investigation, 4+ major court cases/lawsuits, and 2+ major media/internal investigations tied to Alameda County governance, spending, services, or accountability.
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 State Senate
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2025: 7 months of County/State Auditor Review
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Sept. 2025: State Auditor Report Released with Recs
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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 to easily navigate
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NO performance standards
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NO enforceable & competitive contracts
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NO whistleblower hotline
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NO ombudsman
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Youth facility closure & Issues
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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 basic 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 a quarterly 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.
CONSENT 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.
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 SAFEGAURDS.
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 SINGLES OUT ALAMEDA COUNTY UNFAIRLY
SB 1193 is based on multiple counties’ current process. (Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego, and San Bernardino have similar transparency requirements).
Documentation
California State Auditor Report: 2024-108 Alameda County Department of Children and Family Services
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