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Department of County Human Services rebalance approved after reductions shift funding between divisions

5956180 ยท October 9, 2025

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Summary

DCHS presented a rebalanced FY26 budget that increases funding in aging and disability services and IDD but takes substantial reductions to Youth and Family Services, including a $5.2 million cut to rent-assistance programs; the board approved the modification.

Interim DCHS Director Rachel Pearl and Finance Director Robert Stoll briefed the board on Oct. 16 on a rebalance that produced a modest overall increase for DCHS but a very uneven distribution of resources across divisions.

Robert Stoll said Adult and Aging Services (ADBSD) and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) divisions showed increases driven by state mental-health grants and other adjustments; IDD reported roughly a $4.1 million state mental-health grant increase that would add nine FTEs. By contrast, Youth and Family Services (YFS) showed sizable decreases, including a $5.2 million reduction in rent-assistance funding related to state programs (Oregon Rental Assistance / ORE DAP) and adjustments to energy-and-weatherization federal awards.

Stoll described a rescinded DOE innovation award worth about $919,000 and other changes including a $728,000 increase in an OHCS Echo award and a $1.0 million Northwest Natural weatherization rebate addition. The department reported net increases in some grants and notable reductions in others; DCHS said several positions are vacant and that some FTE changes reflect funding-source shifts rather than immediate job eliminations.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about which positions were currently filled versus vacant, the county's coordination with Portland Clean Energy Fund and Metro on weatherization and energy programs, and the implications of shifting Oregon Project Independence (OPI) funding to a Medicaid match version (OPIM). Pearl and staff said the county plans to keep roughly 100 consumers on OPI classic if they are not Medicaid-eligible and that funding through the next biennium would maintain continuity for those participants while staff assess eligibility and transition pathways.

The board approved the DCHS budget modification by roll-call vote. Commissioners urged follow-up reporting on provider impacts, staffing changes and partnerships that could offset service reductions.