Following extensive public discussions and amidst a challenging budget shortfall, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has approved a hefty $4 billion balanced budget for the fiscal year 2026, managing to safeguard essential services like health, homelessness aid, and public safety. According to the Multnomah County news release, these decisions arrive in the wake of what's called the largest spending gap Multnomah County has faced in a decade.
"Our County must continue to be a safe haven for our values of democracy, equity, accountability, kindness, and support for one another," said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson in a statement obtained by Multnomah County News Release. The budget earmarks funds for an increase in shelter beds, maintains housing and case management services, to aid people in transitioning out of homelessness, and fully funds the Sheriff's Office and adult parole and probation programs. These measures were taken despite significant financial constraints which included administrative cuts, to strive to protect the county's most pressing priorities.
The final budget affects 11 County departments and nearly 6,000 full-time employees. It also finances the operations for the county's next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The balance process involved reconsidering the initial executive budget presented in April by Chair Vega Pederson, leading to revenue amendments totaling nearly $2 million. Additions to the budget count the continued funding for school-based mental health services and restored support for legal services that aid in preventing evictions among other key services.
Commissioners had engaged in an earlier-than-usual amendment discussion process this year, over 23 public work sessions spanning more than 29 hours, and three additional community hearings directly involving public voices in May. Commissioner Shannon Singleton mentioned in an interview as per the Multnomah County website, "What I presented in my amendments are policy decisions to ensure that we move forward on housing justice, access to critical services that the federal government has divested in, and making sure that we are protecting our most vulnerable community members who are often the first hit during economic downturns." The commissioners' work culminated in being able to fund a variety of important programs while facing a stark shortfall of $15.5 million in the General Fund due to office vacancies and reduced downtown property values.
On the homelessness front, general funds and state investments were directed to fill gaps resulting from lower-than-expected revenue from Supportive Housing Services tax. The budget supports a system of 24-hour shelters and rental assistance, with specific amendments, like the one proposed by Commissioners Singleton and Brim-Edwards, bringing in $2.9 million for employment services programs for homeless people, which were proposed for cuts in the chair's original budget. In terms of public safety, the budget ensures the functioning of county jails and supports staff for new legal requirements.
Additionally, the budget bolsters healthcare and substance use resources, including funding for the Behavioral Health Resource Center, and crisis intervention services. It also provides for the protection and support of vulnerable groups such as youth, families, and seniors with funding allocated to emergency rent payments, eviction prevention, and other support services. And in a unanimous act, a $1 million was allocated for a memorial to honor the Chinese American community, with a formal apology committed for past harms done to them by the county.
