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Commission reviews Washington and Oregon governor recommendations; seeks permanent public‑records analyst and readies legislative presentation
Summary
Executive director Christina and staff briefed commissioners on Washington and Oregon governor‑recommended budgets, a proposed permanent public‑records/administrative analyst position, a clean fiscal audit, and plans to present the commission’s budget request to Oregon’s Joint Ways and Means Committee.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission received a budget update from Executive Director Christina during its meeting, including differences between Washington’s and Oregon’s governor‑recommended budgets and a request to make a limited‑duration public records/administrative analyst position permanent.
Christina said both governors’ recommendations included funding in the agency’s base request and that the commission will pursue matching funds with Oregon if Washington funds a public‑records/administrative analyst position. “We were going to try to get this from Washington for a public records and administrative analyst full time position,” staff said, noting the current position (Kelly Foster) is limited duration. If Washington’s recommended funding remains in the spring session, staff plan to ask Oregon to match the funding so the position can become permanent.
Connie, the commission’s administrative staff, provided a slide breakdown and said Washington and Oregon differ in how they present certain line items (for example, DEI outreach money is shown differently in the two governors’ documents). Connie said the commission requested $350,000 each for ADR budgets and discussed a $108,000 decision package that Oregon did not allow the commission to submit; staff will seek legislative action in Oregon’s short session to secure matching funds if Washington maintains the recommendation.
Connie also reported that the commission’s fiscal year 2024 financial statement audit was finalized with no findings. “There were no findings, so we had clean audits,” she said, and noted the audit report has been posted to the commission’s website as required.
Staff said they are preparing for the Oregon agency director presentation to the Joint Ways and Means Committee for Natural Resources later in February and March; Chair Mills is scheduled to represent the commission at that hearing alongside executive staff.
Votes at a glance
Approved: Minutes of the Dec. 10, 2024, Commission meeting — motion moved by Commissioner Reynolds, seconded (second not named on record); outcome: approved; Commissioner Morgan abstained (not present at Dec. 10 meeting).
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to finalize the budget presentation materials and continue outreach to legislators. Staff will monitor whether Washington’s recommended funds survive to the spring and will seek matching funds in Oregon if available.
