Today, Governor Tina Kotek unveiled her vision for Oregon's next two years with the 2025-2027 recommended budget, ambitiously titled "Building on Progress." Addressing constituents via a detailed plan, Kotek reinforced her commitment to truth and pragmatism, stating, "My approach to being your Governor will always be grounded in truth, pragmatism, and a relentless pursuit of equitable outcomes for all Oregonians," as reported by the Governor's Office newsroom. The Governor championed a no-layoff, no-cuts budget that prioritizes strategic investment in key areas such as homelessness, housing supply, behavioral health, and children's and youth services.
During her tenure, Governor Kotek has consulted with Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribal nations and the Governor's Racial Justice Council, absorbing the plurality of voices across the state's 36 counties. This approach colors her decision-making process as she strives to be a Governor for all, in what the Governor's Office newsroom described as her commitment to "building progress on Oregonians' top priorities while remaining disciplined when it comes to new programs," noting the plan's focus on homelessness, with an allocation of more than $700 million which includes $217.9 million for shelters, $188.2 million for housing transitions and $173.2 million for homelessness prevention efforts.
The budget also targets the housing shortage by proposing over $1 billion in funds, of which $880 million is earmarked for new affordable housing bonds, complemented by a novel $100 million housing infrastructure program designed to support related development projects, alongside $57.6 million dedicated to first-time homebuyer supports for easing homeownership barriers. Emphasizing the need for robust behavioral health services, the proposal includes over $330 million in behavioral health initiatives, such as $90 million for capacity building in adult mental health and substance abuse treatments, and a substantial $50 million dedicated to cultivating a culturally responsive behavioral health workforce, as announced in Governor Kotek's statewide budget presentation.
Finally, Governor Kotek's budget seeks to bolster Oregon's youth through a $835 million investment. This move includes an increase of $600 million to the State School Fund, $205.5 million for academic success programs, like early literacy summer learning initiatives, and $25 million for youth behavioral health, efforts that demonstrate Kotek's belief in the enduring promise of every child, she emphasized, "As I approach the halfway mark of my first administration and take stock of where we have been and where we are going, I fundamentally believe the Legislature needs to pass budgets for the next two years that build on the progress we have achieved together," as stated in her prognosis for Oregon's future on the aforementioned Governor's Office news platform.
