Harney County Court approves $10,000 donation, adopts supplemental budget and sends lodging-tax measure to voters

Harney County Court on Sept. 3 approved a package of administrative actions including a $10,000 donation to the Harney County long-term recovery group, adoption of a $115,000 supplemental budget for Public Health RHC, approval of the county's 2025'27 Community Corrections biennial plans and placement of a county transient lodging tax measure on the May ballot.

The court voted unanimously on each item during the regular session. The motions passed by voice vote with commissioners and the county judge signaling "aye." The court also appointed a pool of members to the Harney County Property Value Appeals Board.

Why it matters: These votes allocate contingency and grant-related funds, set near-term fiscal priorities for public health and community corrections, and commit the county to a voter referendum on a lodging tax that, if approved, would tax overnight stays and dedicate most revenue to tourism/economic development uses.

Key outcomes

- Long-term recovery donation: Court approved a $10,000 donation to the Harney County long-term recovery group to support ongoing flood recovery and disaster-response capacity. The funds were authorized to come from the general fund contingency line; the court directed staff to prepare a resolution to move the appropriation on the next agenda. The motion carried by voice vote (ayes recorded) and will be processed by a follow-up resolution.

- Community Corrections biennial plans: The court approved the 2025'27 biennial Community Corrections intergovernmental agreement (document 6091) and the Measure 57 agreement (6935). County staff will sign and return the documents to the state and provide archived copies to the county clerk.

- Transient lodging tax on the ballot: The court voted to place a Harney County transient lodging tax measure on the May ballot. Court members discussed outreach and public education needs prior to a vote, noting prior unsuccessful ballot attempts and the need to explain that the fee targets visitors and is typically $5—$8 per night in comparable counties.

- Property Value Appeals Board appointments: The court appointed William J. Hart, Mary Pidoro and Robert Frank to the pool for the Harney County Property Value Appeals Board for terms through June 30, 2026, and appointed Julie Stakehart, Mark Woodbury and Amaya Paletta as non-elected members.

- Supplemental budget (Resolution 2025-19): The court adopted Resolution 2025-19, a supplemental budget appropriating an additional $115,000 in materials and supplies for Public Health RHC (Fund 245). County staff said the increase reflects higher-than-expected revenues and identified expenditures such as communication services, inspections, and partnership expenses.

Court procedure and next steps

For the donation, staff will prepare a formal resolution to move the contingency funds to the flood/recovery line at a subsequent court session. For the Community Corrections plans, the signed intergovernmental agreements will be returned to the state; the court asked staff to archive state-level signatures. For the lodging tax measure, the court discussed a public-education push and coordination with motel/hotel operators before the May ballot. For the supplemental budget, the public hearing was opened and closed at the Sept. 3 session; the resolution was adopted by voice vote.

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts): "We had a request at the time for a $10,000 donation." (topicintro) — transcript block starting 225.995 "I moved to approve a 10,000 donation in the Harney County contingency fund for the long term recovery group." (topicfinish) — transcript block starting 1094.42

"We have 2 different intergovernmental agreements. It's 6091, which is our biennial plan... and 6935 is our Measure 57." (topicintro) — transcript block starting 3878.8599 "A motion has been made and seconded to approve the 2025-2027 biennial...Any further discussion? All in favor signify by saying aye." (topicfinish) — transcript block starting 4522.93

"I would like to put it on the ballot again in May." (topicintro) — transcript block starting 5892.87 "A motion has been made and seconded to put forth a ballot measure, to establish Harney County transient lodging tax...All in favor signify by saying aye." (topicfinish) — transcript block starting 6446.8203

"Be it resolved that the additional amount for the fiscal year beginning 07/01/2025...increase materials and supplies to $762,285, an increase of $115,000." (topicintro) — transcript block starting 7378.1196 "All in favor signify by saying aye? Aye. And opposed? Hearing none, motion carries." (topicfinish) — transcript block starting 7913.67

Speakers relevant to votes (attribution whitelist): - William J. Hart, County Judge (first ref: transcript block 6597.7847) - Commissioner Robert Frank (first ref: transcript block 722.815) - Commissioner Dorril (role listed in transcript as "Commissioner Dorril", first ref: transcript block 224.215) - Bob Yunker, Vice Chair, Harney County Long-Term Recovery Group (first ref: transcript block 339.47) - Brandy [last name not specified], District Manager, High Desert Parks & Recreation (first ref: transcript block 4591.985) - Lieutenant Todd, Jail (first ref: transcript block 2109.8)

Authorities referenced: - Resolution 2025-19 (referenced_by: ["supplemental_budget_public_health"]) — supplemental budget adoption for Public Health RHC - Intergovernmental Agreements 6091 and 6935 (referenced_by: ["community_corrections_biennial_plan","measure_57_agreement"]) — Community Corrections biennial and Measure 57 agreements

Actions (formal motions recorded at the meeting): 1) kind: donation; identifiers:{}; motion:"Approve a $10,000 donation to the Harney County long term recovery group from the general fund contingency line, to be processed by subsequent resolution."; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[]; tally:{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0}; legal_threshold:{"met":true}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"Follow-up resolution required to move funds between budget lines.";

2) kind: resolution; identifiers:{"resolution_number":"2025-19"}; motion:"Adopt supplemental budget and appropriate an additional $115,000 to Public Health RHC fund 245 materials and supplies."; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[]; tally:{"yes":2,"no":0,"abstain":0}; legal_threshold:{"met":true}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"Public hearing opened and closed at the session prior to adoption.";

3) kind: resolution; identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"community_corrections_6091_6935"}; motion:"Approve the 2025-2027 biennial Community Corrections intergovernmental agreement (6091) and Measure 57 agreement (6935) and authorize signature and submittal to the state."; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[]; tally:{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0}; legal_threshold:{"met":true}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"State signatures still required; county to archive copies.";

4) kind: other; identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"transient_lodging_ballot"}; motion:"Place a Harney County transient lodging tax measure on the May ballot."; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[]; tally:{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0}; legal_threshold:{"met":true}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"Court requested public education/outreach prior to the election.";

5) kind: appointment; identifiers:{"agenda_item_id":"pvab_appointments"}; motion:"Appoint members to the Harney County Property Value Appeals Board for terms through 06/30/2026."; mover:"not specified"; second:"not specified"; vote_record:[]; tally:{"yes":3,"no":0,"abstain":0}; legal_threshold:{"met":true}; outcome:"approved"; notes:"Appointee names read into record.";

Clarifying details extracted from discussion about votes: - contingency_fund_available:{"amount_usd":63000,"source_speaker":"Judge William J. Hart"} - operating_reserve_beginning_fund_balance_usd:810000 (source_speaker:"Judge William J. Hart") - supplemental_budget_amount_usd:115000 (source_speaker:"Judge William J. Hart")

proper_names:[{"name":"Harney County","type":"agency"},{"name":"Harney County long term recovery group","type":"organization"},{"name":"High Desert Parks & Recreation","type":"organization"},{"name":"Community Corrections","type":"agency"},{"name":"Circular Action Alliance","type":"organization"}]

searchable_tags:["supplemental budget","long-term recovery","transient lodging tax","community corrections","appointments"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"225.995","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"We have some members from the long term recovery group here this morning. Last county court, Stacy Davies, the chair for the group, made presentation. And, there was a request at the time for a $10,000 donation.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"1104.705","local_start":0,"local_end":80,"evidence_excerpt":"I moved to approve a 10,000 donation in the Harney County contingency fund for the long term recovery group.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}