[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6571225,"mediaKeyId","3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb","parentId",3086359,"title","Multnomah County outlines budget calendar, amendment rules and public hearing schedule ahead of chair’s proposed budget","audioSeconds",1301,"startMs",5317000,"endMs",6618000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb&start=5317&end=6618","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb/thumbnail_5317000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6571225/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Multnomah-County-outlines-budget-calendar-amendment-rules-and-public-hearing-schedule-ahead-of-chairs-proposed-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571225-58e235e6915d2b270037e2524450a1d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909003&Signature=mvuudW7--AqcnyTxUTz9FMB9cEgWbUri1RvWewvJZDGuEJTQC5Kw2WwMgHpWz0wWJmVroMILd94UYWbOlxcMFrT-FuDXHpHQNvVXORqYrOBhcQxXR3zH8MekNkU~RNh2Z-pc-HErv95I~c2PCqVeUwQPjGbCDb5OcKuMpp9VJZ57~x0Ya-okSeHgKFLvYrAeBSva89W0oil-C6Nfm~4kKM5cy64~a3N-l-98cMdqFo3v8HddLW8LPEglpJkz1aD5toBFkdw7y7~sE8EOurzTEIdcj300FIoHq-K4J6BZNku8Pu3GiKkl1s6~ezdNfxl1PNFjh~cw81i5pZkse2Tg1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Multnomah County","date","2025-04-22T19:32:26.77Z","article","Multnomah County Chair Vega Peterson and Budget Director Christian Elkin briefed the Board of Commissioners on the county’s budget timeline, amendment procedures and public engagement for the upcoming budget process.

Elkin said the chair’s proposed budget will be released on Thursday (date provided in meeting materials) and outlined a sequence of public hearings, department work sessions and an approval step scheduled for May 8. He described the statutory complication introduced by the county’s use of the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission (TSCC): once the board approves a budget, Oregon local budget law limits increases to a four‑digit fund by more than 10% without an additional hearing or a supplemental process.

“Elkins explained the 10% rule applies at the fund level and not to department line items,” Chair Peterson said during the briefing. The budget office said the rule primarily affects smaller funds and capital funds; large funds such as the general fund have room to absorb changes through the standard amendment process, while larger increases may require an additional TSCC hearing or later supplemental budget.

The briefing described how the board’s approval step differs from final adoption: approval allows the board to publicly begin deliberations and submit materials to TSCC, and adoption — the final legal step — occurs after public hearings and any adjustments. Commissioners asked for clarity on sequencing because the county serves as both the executive proposer and the governing board, a dual role that conflates stages that in other jurisdictions are handled by separate budget committees.

Commissioners raised several process and transparency concerns, including the short turnaround between release and the approval vote, the visibility and timing of department technical amendments, how the county will track and publish amendments and whether commissioners’ proposed board amendments should include offsetting reductions to keep the overall budget balanced.

The budget office said it will provide a detailed kickoff packet after the chair’s release that includes appendices, a public calendar, the budget‑to‑actual monitoring dashboard and a proposed schedule for department presentations and follow‑ups. Staff noted they will lengthen the deliberation period this year and post materials online; commissioners asked staff to make the materials accessible (language access and readability) and to do targeted outreach to expand public participation beyond the typical demographics that use the hearings.

The county encouraged commissioners who plan to file amendments to coordinate with budget staff early, to propose balanced amendments where possible, and to use budget notes to set clear expectations for departmental follow‑up and public reporting. The board scheduled multiple department work sessions and follow‑ups over a seven‑week deliberation window.

The briefing closed with staff offering to post presentation notes with the board packet and to continue refining the calendar; commissioners asked for additional clarity on the TSCC schedule and for the budget office to collect feedback after the process for improvements in future cycles.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04.22.25 Board Briefing","oneSentenceSummary","County chair and budget staff briefed commissioners on the budget calendar, public hearing schedule, the 10% rule for fund increases after approval, and expectations for amendments and budget notes; commissioners raised concerns about timing, transparency and public outreach for hearings.","taxTitle","Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2759,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571229,"Multnomah County auditor finds Preschool for All has expanded access but flags communication, provider support and growth risks",1216,3806000,5022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb&start=3806&end=5022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb/thumbnail_3806000.jpg","/articles/6571229/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Multnomah-County-auditor-finds-Preschool-for-All-has-expanded-access-but-flags-communication-provider-support-and-growth-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571229-2ed386425361d5e2c0864c5b862339b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909003&Signature=miA-mmrHHkkRwVeSVtqhOtbeRAkJHiH99LW1zJCw1Si6opv7hMXorTeOa-Pi2XpD8hYuxA8WBW3BQ-ScCQnLBZ6uX1gPnxbZScSG-iESTig3Q3s0L3T9AApgMnmMvCflcN~dCur83Mbg4d81RHhKc5yxOPsBbFFAodSn~5Ffap8AiFUhr51nvQ6QkoMDk~LtQreFN0XdN77K1dk-ZICuMJipD70c7GJWL~Km~-FRYyBKW2z0jz66cjij0tHmyjiJhbzzSLnlQhhfw4QM77X0vgEnC2jUfRlOQguHGcJtKIUxs8m34AyHdAWMg56RmTJsaE5JNsdL1uOfxQbM85eL~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multnomah County’s auditor presented a performance audit of the Preschool for All program that found the initiative has expanded seats for many children from priority groups but that shortcomings in communications, provider supports and facilities planning pose risks to the program’s longer‑term goal of universal preschool.

Jennifer McGwirk, Multnomah County Auditor, and staff auditors Mandy Hood and Caroline Zavitzkowski presented the audit and 16 recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. Department leaders said they accept the recommendations and will work with the auditor’s office to implement them.

The audit reviewed program data, contracts and interviews with 63 stakeholders including program staff, participating and nonparticipating providers and families. Auditors reported 133 participating sites as of the briefing (11 added mid‑school‑year) and said nearly 2,000 children were enrolled before the midyear additions; the auditors did not provide a post‑midyear total during the presentation.

Fiscal data presented by the auditor showed Preschool for All reported about $201,000,000 in revenue for fiscal year 2024 and $60,000,000 in expenditures that fiscal year; auditors reported a fund balance of $485,000,000 at the end of FY24 and said program leaders expect some years will run a deficit while the savings buffer is used. Auditors recommended updating budgets and forecasts to better reflect actual spending patterns and to communicate those assumptions to the board and public.

Auditors identified four main findings: leaders need to communicate program changes more clearly; Preschool for All has reached many families in priority groups but the share declined in 2024–25; providers need more support to serve children with disabilities and other priority needs; and the program faces risks to expansion that require clearer facilities‑fund guidelines and workforce development tracking.

On prioritization, the auditors noted that a majority of applicants and enrollees reported at least one priority condition in earlier years, but that the share of applicants with priorities fell to about 77% in the 2024–25 school year. The auditors said family choice in ranking preschool preferences and automatic continuations from infant/toddler programs contributed to lower‑priority families occupying slots at some programs.

The audit praised supports the program has created — including coaching contracts with Mount Hood Community College and the Multnomah Education Services School District and a new inclusion team and inclusion fund to help providers serve children with disabilities — but said providers still request more specialized coaching and language‑concordant coaches.

To address risks and improve transparency, auditors recommended verifying applicant priority claims (at minimum verifying income documentation), publishing seat availability by site, harmonizing priority language across communications and contracts, creating focused outreach for groups omitted from the revised contracts (for example migrant and refugee families, teen parents and families affected by incarceration or substance use), and clarifying facilities‑fund guidelines and reporting.

Mandy Hood and Caroline Zavitzkowski, who led the audit work, also urged making the provider guide and program scoring outcomes available to applicants and tracking why applications fail so the county can better assist providers who want to join the program.

Department leadership told the board they generally agreed with the audit’s findings and will discuss timelines for implementing recommendations. Leslie Barnes, director of the Preschool and Early Learning Division, said many recommendations align with work already in progress and noted the division’s practice of offering technical assistance and repeat application opportunities for providers.

Commissioners asked for follow‑up on several items including verification of income for priority weighting, more granular data on seats by site and schedule type, details on how the facilities fund prioritizes projects, and periodic follow‑up reporting from the auditor’s office on recommendation implementation. The auditor’s office said it will follow up on the 16 recommendations and report back on their status.","An auditor’s performance audit found Preschool for All has reached many priority children and grown participating sites, but auditors recommended 16 actions to improve transparency, outreach, provider supports and facilities planning as the county works toward universal preschool capacity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6571234,"Multnomah County says AMR staffing changes have improved response times but full contract compliance not yet met",999,95000,1094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb&start=95&end=1094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3086359-3d5bafb26a58c268e3a0b27a7a386dbb/thumbnail_95000.jpg","/articles/6571234/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Multnomah-County-says-AMR-staffing-changes-have-improved-response-times-but-full-contract-compliance-not-yet-met","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6571234-82d36adf6900da307808cece2b22c777/orig.mp4?Expires=1770909003&Signature=KE1HZOFNnz2DSnXctVv9KglQLDoGksOk8ZjgWhc8IV6ylqYcUqkjh0KqvQDKT7QW61xSsRfSDfmRs~i2zjPQhofo5rBsaXLcs-S4qc-Ot7vmuSnsa3YkYgH~KMW9ziBgWdnzqXjv6xzeSr57b~LWwAocyAx-YUBV~IBT~zn9QuhfnLnjtwlVsZv1jG5TSQXZkDOETZSpIahBjKqQRT0kas1ED-BETwVwuQAEozXj6bhn7ddkCl560i~U0siYTXMLkB~nYnzsZUX4g2kAdEqxx1kQxuD5QpdklyihUHmzi6S61uTq2mx1kAmd15ZY1AK2-AEm0MNk1z9k2690EFLaIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multnomah County officials and American Medical Response (AMR) told the county Board of Commissioners that temporary staffing changes under a settlement agreement have increased ambulance deployment and reduced periods when no ambulances were available, but monthly contract response‑time compliance has not yet been met.

Dr. Bruno, the county’s health officer and interim medical director for Corrections Health, and Aaron Monning, health officer operations manager and EMS administrator, briefed the board on the settlement terms, public response‑time dashboard data and an ongoing system assessment. Rob McDonald, AMR’s regional director for Oregon, and Andrew Cherry, AMR Multnomah County operations manager, described AMR’s recruiting, training and capital investments.

The settlement agreement, signed by the chair and AMR last summer and memorialized in a county resolution, temporarily allowed AMR more flexibility in staffing to increase the number of ambulances available while it hired and trained clinicians. Under the agreement AMR must ensure that 85% of daily, lower‑acuity calls triaged by BOAC are handled by basic life support (BLS) ambulances and maintain a minimum daily average of 20 dual‑paramedic advanced life support (ALS) ambulances. The agreement also set a ramp‑up period and put previously accrued contract penalties in abeyance pending performance.

County and AMR officials said the measures have produced measurable changes but not full compliance with the contract response‑time targets. The county’s public dashboard — updated monthly — shows improvement in urban life‑threatening (code‑3) response time percentages, which AMR representatives said are in the high‑80s (short of the 90% contractual threshold). Non‑life‑threatening responses exceeded the 90% target. Rural responses are reported in six‑month increments, officials said.

AMR reported hiring and training gains: 28 paramedics recruited outside scholarship programs since August 2024; 18 paramedic graduates from AMR scholarship programs now working in the system; roughly 75 paramedic students in partner programs who commit to Multnomah County for at least two years; and a growing “earn while you learn” EMT pipeline. AMR also said it added 18 fully equipped ambulances to local deployment since September 2024 and increased average daily deployed ambulances from about 43 in July 2024 to about 66 in March 2025.

“Crews are now running a much more manageable five to seven calls in the same 12‑hour shift,” Rob McDonald said, adding that the change has mitigated fatigue and burnout. AMR also credited training expansions — including more training officers and field time — and diversity scholarship programs intended to increase recruitment from BIPOC communities.

The county said AMR has accrued $8,046,825 in penalties for noncompliance between April 2022 and November 2024; those fines are being held under the settlement and would be eligible to be waived only if AMR meets contractual response‑time performance. Aaron Monning said no fines have been waived because AMR has not yet achieved the required monthly compliance.

Commissioners asked for additional information and follow‑up. Commissioner Moyer asked whether the staffing changes have affected clinical outcomes for life‑threatening calls such as heart attack, stroke and seizure. Aaron Monning said the county is hiring an EMS medical director to lead an outcomes analysis and that preliminary analyses are under way. “That is forthcoming,” Monning said.

Commissioners also pressed for zone‑level, priority‑level breakdowns of compliance data (for example, life‑threatening calls in the East zone), frontline staff feedback, and details about AMR’s international recruitment and temporary staffing arrangements. AMR said a previously used national contracting agency that provided temporary paramedics ended its work in March because local staffing began to improve; AMR also described a developing pathway for licensed paramedics from Australia who would work under U.S. visas for an initial minimum two‑year commitment.

Board members requested that AMR and county EMS return with more disaggregated outcome and zone‑level data, direct frontline‑staff feedback at a future briefing, and details on the scholarship and diversity recruitment programs. Dr. Bruno said the county will conduct a one‑year evaluation of the settlement agreement’s implementation and return to the board with a recommendation to continue, modify or terminate the agreement.

County and AMR officials emphasized that the settlement was designed as a temporary “bridge” to increase ambulance availability while AMR rebuilt staffing to the core contract model.

","At a board briefing, Multnomah County and American Medical Response reported improvements in ambulance availability and response-time measures since a settlement agreement and temporary staffing model were implemented; county and AMR officials said outcome data and a one‑year evaluation remain pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Multnomah County outlines budget calendar, amendment rules and public hearing schedule ahead of chair’s proposed budget

Multnomah County auditor finds Preschool for All has expanded access but flags communication, provider support and growth risks

Multnomah County says AMR staffing changes have improved response times but full contract compliance not yet met