By Kolby R. LaMarche

Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) is preparing for a period of significant transition in Fiscal Year 2026, including new leadership, expanded staffing, and shifts in program funding.

The office plans to hire a permanent director, two program managers, and an administrative and financial coordinator—bringing the team to five full-time employees.

REIB’s FY26 budget will total $791,696, a 10.6% increase over the FY25 budget of $715,568. All funding will come directly from the City’s General Fund – Burlington taxpayers – not from federal grants. 

Of the total, $581,846 is allocated for personnel, $390,000 for full-time personnel and roughly $90,000 for part-time “Trusted Community Voices”. $100,000 is set aside for community celebrations and $40,000 for language access services. 

Although REIB was approved for five full-time positions in FY25, it operated with just three staff members. This lean staffing structure resulted in over $250,000 in savings, according to the department.

As part of its budget realignment, REIB will wind down its Empowerment Grant Program at the end of FY25. Funded through a one-time allocation, the program received more than 80 applications totaling nearly $900,000 in requests, with over 50 organizations seeking support. While the program proved popular, the department says it will now shift toward integrating equity-based grantmaking into broader city systems.

In FY25, the office hosted seven community engagement sessions across five city wards. The events drew 77 participants in total—an average of just about 11 people per session—and included representation from 29 racial and nationality groups and 51 organizations. Six local groups donated space for the sessions, and six BIPOC-owned or local caterers provided food.

Insights from these sessions informed an update to the office’s vision and purpose statements, and helped guide decisions on staffing and future programming. REIB says these changes are aimed at better aligning its work with community needs.

In FY26, the office plans to strengthen its capacity and introduce more structured initiatives, including policy development, training programs, and internal culture assessments for city departments. It also intends to develop a framework for equity-based policy review, to – they say – include voices in the operation of government. 

REIB will collaborate with the Burlington Police Department’s community engagement staff to deepen relationships with local organizations, particularly in underserved communities. The goal, they say, is to build greater trust and understanding between city government and the public.

City officials say moving REIB’s funding to the General Fund reflects a long-term commitment to racial equity work and provides more stable planning opportunities. However, some may question the lasting impact of ending popular one-time programs like the Empowerment Grant.

The office also acknowledged potential threats to its work from national political shifts, including rollbacks in federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Despite these challenges, REIB says it remains committed to advancing racial equity at the local level.

Originally established in 2020 following a city council resolution and national calls for racial justice, REIB says it will continue to focus on education, policy development, health equity, and increasing civic participation among marginalized groups. The office sees these efforts as critical to creating a more inclusive Burlington.