Deschutes County legislative update: revenue forecast leaves $2 billion but wildfire, transportation choices loom

Doug Riggs, Deschutes County27s legislative liaison, briefed commissioners on May 23, 2025, about end-of-session developments in Salem, including the second-chamber committee deadline, a revised revenue forecast and high-priority funding negotiations over wildfire response and transportation.

Riggs said the session just passed a second-chamber deadline that effectively closed most committees to substantive work except for Ways and Means, Revenue and Rules. He reported the latest revenue forecast left budget writers with roughly $2 billion more to allocate in the next biennium compared with the current one, but noted that inflation and large program demands mean that available funds will be stretched.

Wildfire funding was a central focus. Commissioner Chang said the governor is supporting the idea of using a portion of a state27s kicker to seed a wildfire trust fund, generating interest to pay for prevention and suppression over time. Chang cautioned that alternatives such as tapping the rainy day fund are politically fraught: "I believe...people really don't want that kick or touch because once it's touched, yes, it will always be touched," and that tapping the rainy day fund likely requires a two-thirds legislative majority. Riggs and commissioners discussed that using general-fund resources for wildfire costs could reduce funds available for other priorities such as public safety and behavioral health.

On transportation, Riggs said the co-chairs of a joint transportation expenditures committee indicated yesterday they might fold cap-and-trade revenue into transportation funding, though details remain undeveloped. Multiple participants urged attention to accountability measures for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT); one speaker said the accountability package and a funding package had yet to be rolled out, complicating legislative decision-making. Commissioners and staff also discussed past shortcomings in House Bill 2017 funding for operations and maintenance and the need for a transportation package that better covers basic upkeep.

Several bills of county interest were discussed. Riggs said Senate Bill 75 (ADU wildfire-hazard language) and Senate Bill 83 (wildfire maps) have been shifted to the Rules Committee and are in a holding pattern, possibly used as negotiating leverage in larger deals. House Bill 3069 (Community Justice grant/committee streamlining) had a dash-6 amendment that postponed some deadlines to 2026 and addressed some county concerns; it is expected to require funding in Ways and Means. Riggs encouraged counties to watch ways and means as the session enters the final four weeks.

Other updates included earlier county advocacy: staff sent a signed letter listing about 15 county priority items and reported movement on a Juniper-related appropriation (described in the meeting as approximately $5,200,000 shared among counties, with Wheeler County noted to receive $455,000) and a Terrebonne septic-related ask that the speaker27s office showed would total about $3,200,000 versus an original $2,500,000 request. Riggs also said the legislature27s commissioned ODOT audit had not yet been released and could arrive soon.

On the Core 3 economic-impact statement, county staff said a University of Oregon analysis is available in draft form; staff planned to refine it and send a letter to Ways and Means staff. Riggs said he would notify the Ways and Means LFO staff that a report had been completed so staff would have advance notice before an official county letter was submitted.

No formal county votes on legislative bills or funding packages were recorded in the meeting; the county took advocacy steps and planned staff follow-up as described above. Commissioners were repeatedly warned that final budget and policy decisions will be made in Salem as leaders balance competing demands and limited revenue.