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Multnomah County approves six budget modifications, including bridge emergency repairs and homelessness rebalancing
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Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved six budget modifications and one consent appropriation in a hybrid meeting. Actions covered emergency transportation repairs, behavioral health and civil commitment funding, La Clinica clinic completion, and housing fund reallocations tied to state and federal sources.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved six budget modifications and a consent appropriations item during a hybrid meeting, authorizing immediate spending for emergency transportation repairs, increases to behavioral health capacity, completion funding for a community clinic and several homelessness and shelter funding adjustments.
The approvals included an emergency charge of $1,643,500 to a federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) transportation grant for emergency repairs to the Stark Street Bridge approach, ongoing state and county funds for behavioral health call-center staffing, a $470,000 Oregon Health Authority grant to expand civil-commitment services, $6,000,000 to complete the Fern Hill La Clinica health center relocation, and several Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) technical rebalance and fund-swap actions tied to Senate Bill 1530 and ARPA funding.
The board front-loaded the immediate emergency bridge request to preserve county road funds for other projects while using the dedicated CRRSA transportation allocation. John Hendrickson, director of the transportation division, told the board the northwest approach to the Stark Street Bridge collapsed in September 2024; county staff obtained an emergency declaration, directly hired Goodfellow Brothers and a designer, and reopened the bridge in March after consulting ODOT and regulatory agencies. The staff memo said the CRRSA transportation funds requested must be expended by Sept. 30, 2029.
Brady Estevez, finance manager for Behavioral Health and Corrections Health, presented a $964,760 allocation from Clackamas and Washington counties to expand call-center staffing: four continuing positions funded by Clackamas County ($704,000) and two temporary positions funded by Washington County ($260,000). The board approved the modification.
On civil commitment services, the board accepted a $470,000 ongoing award from the Oregon Health Authority to add two positions to strengthen involuntary civil-commitment processes, data reporting and diversion work. JL Sender, interim deputy director of the Behavioral Health Division, provided 2024 case counts: 2,303 investigations, 1,824 filings after the initial 72-hour period, 408 14-day diversions, 53 hearings and 35 commitments. Commissioner Moyer criticized the state funding level as inadequate and asked staff to pursue state advocacy for greater support.
The board also approved a $6,000,000 appropriation to complete the Fern Hill (La Clinica de Buena Salud) project at the Portland Community College Opportunity Center, which will house primary care, integrated behavioral health, on-site pharmacy and dental hygiene services.
In homelessness funding, the board approved a technical rebalance to reappropriate $11,200,000 in supportive housing services (SHS) carryover to align county and City of Portland spending plans and approved a funding swap replacing City ARPA with state Senate Bill 1530 funds for Safe Rest Villages this fiscal year. The JOHS presenters said the adjustments do not change the net funding available for FY25 but alter the funding flow between jurisdictions.
Roll-call votes were taken on each item and each passed. Several commissioners used the discussions to press for clearer processes on budget modifications and for continued county advocacy to the Oregon Health Authority on mental-health funding.
Votes at a glance: - R1 — DCS budget modification to charge $1,643,500 in CRRSA transportation funds for emergency repairs to the Stark Street Bridge approach. Moved and seconded on the record; approved (5–0). - R2 — HD budget modification accepting $964,760 from Clackamas and Washington counties for behavioral health call‑center staffing (4 new positions + 2 temporary). Approved (5–0). - R3 — HD budget modification appropriating $470,000 from the Oregon Health Authority for expanded civil‑commitment services (2 new positions). Approved (5–0). - R4 — HD budget modification: $6,000,000 appropriation to finish the Fern Hill / La Clinica de Buena Salud relocation and construction. Approved (5–0). - R5 — JOHS technical rebalance: reappropriation of $11,200,000 in SHS carryover for City of Portland temporary alternative shelter sites. Approved (5–0). - R6 — JOHS budget modification: swap $5,147,256 of City ARPA for State SB 1530 funds to fund SRVs (Safe Rest Villages); technical funding swap approved (5–0). - C6 (consent pull) — HD appropriation of $175,000 for maternal and child health community lead organizations (planning under an IGA with OHA); approved (5–0).
What this means: the board preserved county road funds by charging emergency bridge repair to federal transportation CRRSA dollars, reinforced county behavioral health call‑center staffing with partner-county dollars, accepted OHA funds to expand involuntary commitment staffing and reporting, completed a major community-health clinic project, and carried out a set of technical pass‑through and fund-swap changes tied to homelessness and shelter operations. Several commissioners asked for clearer timelines and for a new, consistent process on budget modifications going into the new fiscal year.
Board members, presenters and staff contact information appear in the meeting record for each item; the formal vote records and the related ordinance/amendment paperwork will be posted with the county clerk's minutes.
