Lane County commissioners ask staff to begin public outreach, map funding options after public-safety task force report

Lane County commissioners on Wednesday reviewed a year‑long public‑safety task force report and directed county staff to begin an accelerated public‑engagement effort, prepare budget‑prioritization scenarios and return with a roadmap for preserving current patrol and prosecution services.

The task force concentrated on three core elements it said are most reliant on general‑fund dollars: rural patrol, the district attorney’s office and adult corrections. The group presented a range of funding scenarios, from a targeted $27 million package to larger options that would expand the county’s public‑safety budget further.

County Administrator Mokrysky opened the work session by flagging the broader fiscal context: “the forecast is posted, and it's officially the state forecast officially reducing the '25 to '27 biennium revenue by $845,700,000,” he said, noting state and federal budget shifts that will affect counties over the next two to three years.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the county faces a choice between pursuing new revenues or re‑allocating existing dollars; many emphasized the need to build trust with voters and clearly explain tradeoffs before advancing any ballot measure. The board also asked staff to prepare for near‑term budget decisions because some one‑time funds supporting increased rural patrol expire at the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Most significant numbers and options - Task force priorities: rural patrol (about $22 million annually to fund roughly 68 deputies), district attorney staffing (about $5 million annually) and adult corrections funding. Those two items…