Washington County officials say state budget cuts force $2.4 million reduction in community corrections operations

Washington County commissioners were told at a roundtable meeting that a recently amended state budget will force about $2.4 million in cuts to the county’s Community Corrections programs, and that operational changes must begin immediately to meet a July 1 implementation deadline.

Erin Doyle, county staff, told the board that “House bill 5004 was just amended by the state legislature and now reflects a significantly reduced community corrections budget than what was introduced.” She said the amended budget does not reflect the governor’s recommendation or the Department of Corrections’ cost study and that the change must be implemented by July 1 of the fiscal year.

Why it matters: Community Corrections provides programs intended to supervise and rehabilitate adults released from custody. County officials said reducing those services risks increasing incarceration or jail commitments and could raise systemwide costs and public-safety consequences at both county and state levels.

County staff said the board will not be asked to adopt the amendment now. Instead, the county will make operational adjustments immediately and carry any formal budget amendment to the fall supplemental process. “We are not asking that you approve the amendment. … It will be you will handle it during the fall supplemental, but we need to make the operational changes now,” a county staff member told the board.

County staff described three categories of planned responses under consideration: protecting statutorily mandated services and staff safety and training; evaluating services that can be consolidated, reduced, or provided by external partners; and workforce reductions or capacity reductions at community correction centers. Board members and staff exchanged questions about the level of detail they would receive before the formal supplemental budget request and were told a clearer list would be delivered in the board packet prior to the next budget meeting.

Commissioners discussed the broader policy context and possible longer-term options. Chair Catherine Harrington said the county had previously produced a white paper on public safety and justice to educate state legislators, and she urged the county to continue communicating the local impacts of state disinvestment. One commissioner noted that some counties have returned parole and probation services to the state, a move county staff said is not recommended for Washington County. Harrington also raised operational ideas discussed internally—such as retraining affected staff for other roles—but emphasized the county must get facts before choosing a path.

Clarifying details from county staff: the specific fiscal reduction mentioned during the meeting was $2,400,000; staff said internal planning and personnel adjustments will start now and the formal budget amendment will be processed in the fall supplemental; the statutory services the county must provide are defined through Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), which staff referenced when describing protected service obligations.

The board directed staff to supply a detailed list of proposed operational changes and to include transparent written materials in the next board packet so commissioners can review options ahead of the fall supplemental process.

Ending: County staff and commissioners said they will continue briefings on the subject at upcoming meetings and will provide the board with written material on planned operational changes and the fall supplemental timeline.