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Portland officials warn proposed Rule 26 and budget changes would sharply cut general assistance funding
Summary
City staff and state legislators told Portland's legislative committee that a proposed DHHS regulation (Rule 26) and budget language in a supplemental/biennial package would reduce the amount the city can bill for general assistance (GA), creating a multi‑million dollar shortfall and prompting consideration of legal and legislative responses.
Portland city staff and state lawmakers told the city's legislative committee that a proposed change to Rule 26 and related budget language in the supplemental/biennial budget could drastically reduce how much the state will reimburse municipalities for general assistance (GA).
Kate Knox, lobbying counsel for the city, described the proposal as an amendment from the Office of Family Independence that "greatly limit[s] the rate at which the city could bill for GA" and said the rule appears to rely on an ambiguous line about an "0 bed, no bathroom efficiency unit" that would cut the billable rate roughly in half.
Why it matters: Portland officials said the change would create a substantial gap in the city budget and could leave the city shouldering emergency shelter and other GA costs. Danielle West, Portland's city manager, told the committee the city's preliminary estimate of the fiscal impact is "$4,400,000 to the city." Committee members discussed zoning of the matter as a regulation,…
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