Multnomah County board approves first reading to amend community budget advisory committee code

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend County Code chapter 3 governing Community Budget Advisory Committees, a set of changes county staff said are intended to clarify membership, responsibilities and alignment with the county budget cycle.

The ordinance, moved by Commissioner Brent Edwards and seconded by Commissioner Singleton, passed on a roll-call vote. Commissioners present voted in favor; a second reading is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2025.

County Office of Community Involvement Director Amara Perez told the board the proposed code updates came from recommendations by the county'wide central CBAC and county attorneys. Key changes include new membership minimums and maximums (from a 7-to-10 range to a 4-to-11 range), clearer conflict-of-interest language, clarified alignment of CBAC milestones with the county budget cycle, and other technical edits intended for longevity and to reduce future code updates.

Perez said OCI'led recruitment over the summer filled dozens of vacancies and that OCI will roll out year-round recruitment, improved onboarding materials and a participant evaluation process. OCI reported beginning the summer with 45 CBAC vacancies, receiving 55 applications and appointing 30 community members to departmental CBACs.

Commissioners asked for clarification of the code language about "departments." Commissioner Singleton asked why language referencing the sheriff's office and district attorney's office had been struck from one subsection. Perez answered that the drafting choice was intended to simplify the code by treating any county department (including the sheriff and the district attorney as budgeted departmental units) uniformly, which would avoid future edits if the board created or reorganized departments. Some commissioners said they were uncomfortable removing explicit references to independent elected offices.

Commissioner Singleton moved an amendment to restore explicit mention of the sheriff's office and district attorney in section 3.301; the amendment passed by voice vote. The ordinance, as amended, received unanimous first-reading approval. The ordinance's second reading and possible final adoption are set for Oct. 30, 2025.

Supporters said the changes will make recruitment and administration of CBACs more consistent; several commissioners emphasized continued coordination with CBAC coordinators who staff departmental CBACs and with independent elected offices. Perez said OCI will continue to send feedback letters to departmental CBACs and to strengthen onboarding and evaluation processes.

The board received no public testimony specific to the ordinance during the item.

The county attorney and OCI staff confirmed the changes do not alter the legal or constitutional status of independently elected officials; the edits are drafting tools to align how committees are created and managed in the code.

The board's first-reading approval initiates the formal process; staff will return for second reading on Oct. 30.