Morrow County budget committee approves FY 2025–26 budget; Heppner rural fire district seeks share of Wheat Ridge East funds

Morrow County's budget committee on an approved motion adopted the fiscal 2025'26 budget and set the county's permanent tax levy, and during public comment a rural fire district sought a share of anticipated project revenues for equipment needed to fight wildland fires in steep terrain.

The budget committee voted to approve a $125,346,936 budget for the 2025'26 fiscal year. Committee members then voted to set the permanent tax rate as read in the meeting record. The meeting record also shows a separate public comment from Tommy Wolf, who identified himself as representing the Heppner Rural Fire Protection District and asked the county to consider directing some of the additional revenue the county will receive from the expanded Wheat Ridge East project to the district to pay for a new brush rig.

"At the end, I understand you, heard from Jerry Aronson yesterday, but we had put in a request for a slice of the additional revenue the county will be receiving from the Wheat Ridge East project," said Tommy Wolf, representing the Heppner Rural Fire Protection District. He told the committee the district's older brush rigs (a 1983 model and a 1975 model) were inadequate for the steep ridges added to the project area and that the district planned to finance a replacement rig through the Bank of Eastern Oregon while requesting county consideration of a funding allocation.

Commissioner Kim clarified timing for the district's request: "To clarify, those funds are not available till 26'27," she said, noting that the committee discussed the request the previous day and that any county funding would likely be considered in the next budget cycle. Committee members indicated they did not view the request as unreasonable but warned the money in question would not be available in the current budget.

Budget staff and department summaries reviewed at the meeting included notes on public health grant revenues and vehicle replacements; ambulance support funding and prior use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds; opioid-settlement proceeds restricted to treatment and prevention programs; and several special revenue fund adjustments including Secure Rural Schools monies and an alcohol enforcement fund consolidation for the district attorney's office. Finance staff said the ambulance program received $1,500,000 in the FY25 budget and that some ARPA funds had been used previously to ensure timely expenditure of federal stimulus funds.

The sheriff's office summary reported no personnel changes but noted a materials-and-services increase tied to a multi-year contract for in-car camera equipment and planned capital outlay for vehicle replacements. The sheriff's reserve fund reflected a $300,000 gift from Amazon to upgrade a command vehicle. The meeting also recorded creation or continuation of several special funds (mediation/reconciliation, behavioral-health deflection grant fund, opioid settlement fund) and staff explanations of fund restrictions and reporting requirements.

After discussion the committee approved the budget and the permanent tax levy. The meeting record shows the motions and seconds were made from the committee floor and that votes were recorded as in favor; individual roll-call tallies were not provided in the public transcript.

The Heppner Rural Fire Protection District said it will return to the county next year with a formal budget request once the timing and availability of Wheat Ridge East funds are certain.

The committee recessed for lunch and planned further procedure changes for next year's budget process, including publishing the budget book earlier and considering a single-day budget committee schedule.

No formal county commitment to provide funds to the rural fire district was recorded in the meeting minutes; commissioners instead noted the request and the likely funding timing.