Facing major financial challenges for the second consecutive year, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a $4 billion budget that preserves many of the county’s core safety net and public safety programs while eliminating at least 158 positions and making other difficult cuts.
The Board voted 4-1 last week to adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 budget after months of discussion over how to address significant funding shortfalls driven by slowing property tax revenue growth, reductions in state and federal funding, and rising personnel costs. County leaders were forced to close an $11 million structural gap in the General Fund and a separate $67 million spending gap in the Homeless Services Department.
The adopted budget funds county operations from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, supporting 11 county departments, nearly 5,700 full-time employees and the offices of the independently elected auditor, sheriff and district attorney.
“When I started this budget process, my fourth and final one as County Chair, it was my goal to leave us in the best possible position to support our community despite federal and local challenges and a difficult fiscal landscape,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “I believe we have succeeded in that. And while the budget reality is such that we’ve had to make some really tough tradeoffs, which will have a real impact on people’s lives and livelihood, we will continue to be a mainstay for Multnomah County through the difficult moments ahead.”
Despite the financial pressures, commissioners largely sought to protect programs serving vulnerable residents. The budget preserves housing for roughly 9,000 formerly homeless residents currently living in permanent supportive housing, adds $3.5 million in ongoing funding to help prevent evictions for an additional 500 families and maintains support for immigrant and refugee assistance programs, including the Immigrant Resilience Program and Bienestar de la Familia. The spending plan also includes funding for rent, food and utility assistance for families affected by federal immigration enforcement activities.
The budget also maintains investments in school-based mental health services, restores full funding for SUN Community Schools after-school programs serving approximately 18,000 students across six school districts and continues support for the county’s Behavioral Health Resource Center and planned 24/7 Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center. On the public safety side, the spending plan maintains current jail capacity, expands the District Attorney’s Office Digital Evidence Management Unit and continues programs designed to reduce recidivism and support successful reentry into the community.
The budget includes several significant reductions. In addition to eliminating at least 158 positions, the county plans a phased closure of 605 adult shelter units and 90 scattered-site shelter vouchers for families. Commissioners also approved the closure of the North Portland Drop-In Center while providing funding to wind down operations through Oct. 1.
Commissioners considered more than 50 amendments and approved 39 changes before adopting the final spending plan following months of public hearings, work sessions and community testimony. While the budget preserves many key programs, Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, who cast the lone vote against the spending plan, argued that it does not go far enough to address the county’s most pressing challenges.
“Ultimately, I voted no on this budget as it leaves too many gaps and will not reduce homelessness or deliver the level of change our community is asking for,” said Brim-Edwards. “I could not support a budget that misses an opportunity for course correction, to reduce outgrown layers of administrative leadership and prioritize investments in direct services and programs that demonstrate improved outcomes and show real results.”
