Clatsop County adopts 2025–26 budget, sets property tax rate; board approves ordinance, contracts and proclamations

Clatsop County commissioners on Thursday adopted the county’s fiscal-year 2025–26 budget, set the county permanent property tax rate at $1.5338 per $1,000 of assessed value and a separate $0.07 per $1,000 local option levy for the fairgrounds, and approved a bond levy of $1,605,426. The board approved the measures by voice vote; the motion passed with all members present voting “aye.”

The adopted budget and related votes followed a multi-week budget review and public hearings that focused on the county’s health and public-safety spending, the reorganization of public health into a broader health and human services function, and several special funds including housing assistance, opioid settlement money, and federal grants. County Manager Joe Gullen summarized the challenges facing local government, saying, “this is a difficult time for local governments, for state government because there's just so much uncertainty.”

Why it matters: the tax rate and budget set the county’s revenue path for the year and fund core services including public health, public safety and road maintenance amid uncertain state and federal funding. Staff and commissioners discussed the risk that some federal and state revenue streams could decline and described contingency plans in documents presented during the committee hearings.

What the budget and accompanying work plan include - Public health: the staff presentation listed a proposed total appropriation for public health of $9,500,000 and described a reorganization that converts the public health director role into a health and human services director to provide oversight across public health, juvenile services, social services and behavioral health. Staff said the change reduces total FTE by about 1.65 but is intended to preserve service levels. - Land use, transportation, housing, economic development and capital: staff presented a proposed functional area budget of $50,900,000 that includes pass-through federal funds and new funds to track housing assistance. Among capital items noted were a proposed $1,000,000 contribution toward construction of the Westport bypass road. - General government: staff identified a $24,300,000 functional-area budget that includes a new preservation fund to set aside monies for deferred building maintenance. The county said non‑general funds and general‑fund departments will be assessed a 2% capital maintenance fee based on building depreciation and square footage usage to support preservation work. - Culture and recreation: staff listed a proposed program-level total of about $3,600,000, and noted a revised estimate for a fairgrounds roof project after a consultant assessment.

Several grant and settlement funds were highlighted during the hearings. Staff said the county expects to budget approximately $17,600,000 in BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) pass-through federal funds and approximately $2,700,000 for housing assistance tied to state legislation; staff also discussed opioid settlement funds that the county is tracking separately for addiction-treatment and prevention programs.

Votes at a glance (formal actions taken May 22) - Budget adoption and tax rate — Motion to approve the budget and set a county property tax rate at $1.5338 per $1,000, a fairgrounds levy of $0.07 per $1,000, and a bonded indebtedness levy totaling $1,605,426. Moved, seconded and approved (ayes recorded: Chair Quellant; Vice Chair Banks; Commissioner Pam Webb; Commissioner LeeAnne Thompson; Commissioner Anthony Wakulla was recorded earlier as excused). Outcome: approved. - Jail bed lease with Benton County — Contract C‑9014: two‑year jail‑bed lease, not to exceed $858,480 ($429,240 per year). County undersheriff Paul Williams said the arrangement will “bring in $286,000 ish and it will cost us maybe about $50,000 a year in additional costs.” Motion approved. Outcome: approved. - Vacation of portion of F Street — Board approved a resolution vacating an unbuilt portion of F Street in the John Day area after petitioners dedicated replacement access to the river; staff provided deeds of dedication as required. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25‑02 — Adoption of amendments to the Clatsop County land‑use code to incorporate clear-and-objective standards for housing. Motion to adopt ordinance 25‑02 was approved. Outcome: approved. - Westport Sewer District budget — Committee recommended approval of the district’s budget; the board moved and seconded approval and the motion passed. Outcome: approved. - Sheriff and district attorney salary provisions — The board moved and approved a motion to set the sheriff’s salary and the district attorney stipend as presented in the budget documents; specifics were recorded in the budget packet. Outcome: approved. - Board stipends — The non‑elected members of the budget committee moved to approve the Board of Commissioners’ stipend recommendation (staff noted a 3% adjustment tied to the cost‑of‑living assumption). Motion approved. Outcome: approved. - Contract amendment authorities — The board authorized the county manager to execute routine amendments to contracts for implementation (the county manager said substantive contract changes would be returned to the board for approval). Outcome: approved.

Proclamations and ceremonial actions - National Maritime Day (May 22, 2025) — Board approved a proclamation recognizing the county’s maritime history and maritime institutions including the Columbia River Maritime Museum. - Emergency Medical Services Week (May 18–24, 2025) — Board approved a proclamation recognizing EMS personnel. Paramedic Amazing Rain urged sustained investment in prehospital care and said, “It’s a moral imperative and frankly a matter of public safety that we, as a community, address the critical underfunding of 9‑1‑1 ambulance services.”

Context and next steps Commissioners and staff emphasized that many funding streams are volatile (ARPA rolloff, state forecasts, federal program uncertainty) and that the board will revisit priorities and contingency options mid‑year if revenue projections change. County Manager Joe Gullen thanked staff and the budget committee and said the county is managing the budget “in a balanced way” while keeping flexibility for potential midyear adjustments.

Ending note: Several commissioners and staff thanked department teams and community partners during the meeting and noted that some items — including capital projects and specific subrecipient agreements for housing assistance and opioid‑settlement programs — will return to the board for project‑level approvals and contract actions.