Clatsop County plans consolidated Health and Human Services department to cut admin costs

Clatsop County officials told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24 that staff will bring an ordinance to consolidate the county’s public health and juvenile services into a single Department of Health and Human Services.

County staff said the change is an administrative reorganization aimed at reducing overhead while maintaining front-line services as state funding tightens. The proposal identifies a one‑time personnel reorganization and a permanent shift in how director‑level costs are charged to county funds — together producing an estimated $230,000 reduction in overall county expenditures.

The county manager said the consolidation was first discussed during the 2024–25 budget process and arose from a need to reduce administrative costs while preserving service delivery. Under the plan, the county would not refill a vacant public health director position; instead the existing juvenile director position would become director of the new department. The deputy public health director would become a public health division manager who would serve as the county’s Local Public Health Authority (LPHA) while reporting to the consolidated department director.

Staff described how the previous structure placed the entire public health director salary on state funding, and juvenile director salary on the general fund. The proposed structure would split the new director salary roughly 50/50 between the general fund and state‑funded public health, creating the estimated $115,000 per side share of the $230,000 savings. County staff said those savings were part of a broader set of budget moves that already eliminated seven vacant positions as of the 2025–26 budget.

County presenters framed the consolidation as one of several options to address fiscal pressure caused by reduced state and federal funding, state caps on property tax growth, inflation and rising costs for health care and retirement. Staff emphasized the change is intended to be an administrative reorganization rather than a cut to direct public services and said the change is already built into the current fiscal year budget.

County staff also said the consolidation requires a formal amendment to the county’s administrative code and will proceed through an ordinance process. They told commissioners they expect a two‑hearing ordinance process starting in October and will return with draft ordinance language for consideration. Commissioners in the meeting expressed general support and said the change should position the county to respond more flexibly if future public health demands increase.

The board did not take a final vote on an ordinance on Sept. 24; staff were directed to return with the formal ordinance and associated administrative‑code changes for formal hearings and approval.

The county noted its general fund reserve stood at about 36% — above the board’s 20% target — and that the reserve provides runway as officials plan longer‑term adjustments. Staff cautioned that further changes could be needed depending on state funding decisions and other external factors, including federal program shifts and potential FEMA impacts.

Looking ahead, the county intends to use the ordinance process both to create the new department in code and to “clean up” other department listings in the administrative code that no longer match the organization’s structure. Staff said future consolidation opportunities such as behavioral health contracts or veteran services questions could be examined once the department structure is established.