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County pauses outside grant awards, flags timber revenue shortfall and reports deflection graduations
Summary
Clatsop County staff said the board will not allocate outside grant funding this year while it plans for a potential $6 million annual revenue impact from reduced timber harvests; staff also reported progress in the voluntary deflection program, including two graduates so far.
County administration staff told the Human Services Advisory Council on February 6 that the board is pausing allocations to outside agencies while it addresses revenue uncertainty tied to timber revenues and other factors.
Board budget stance and revenue context: Monica said the board is focusing on sustaining core county services and will not allocate grant funding to outside agencies this year as part of a status-quo-with-reductions budget approach. She tied the uncertainty to two revenue pressures: reduced timber harvesting related to a habitat conservation plan and lingering effects from a separate mill filing (referred to in the meeting). Monica said the combined effect will reduce timber-harvest revenue and that Clatsop County could see an approximately $6,000,000 annual impact across general fund, rural law enforcement, roads, 4-H and fair operations.
Commissioner appointments: Monica said commissioner liaison appointments are under discussion and that the county's chair needs time to meet with commissioners before those liaison lists will be finalized; she expected clarity by the March meeting.
Deflection program update: Monica described the county's voluntary deflection program for possession of a controlled substance. She said eligible participants who complete the tailored, 90-day program can have criminal charges for possession erased. Monica said the program has produced its second graduate and that staff are exploring whether the program could broaden eligibility beyond simple possession in some cases, while noting limits where other criminal behavior involves victims.
Why it matters: The temporary pause on outside-agency grants and the expected timber-revenue reductions could affect nonprofit and community partners that rely on county grant cycles. The deflection program provides a non-carceral pathway for some people charged with possession but remains limited in scope.
Next steps: Monica said the board will continue discussions on budget reductions and commissioner assignments. County staff plan to explore ways to recruit more participants for the deflection program and to examine whether additional offenses might be eligible for diversion without harming victims' interests.
