Budget committee approves Rural Law Enforcement, 4‑H and Road District budgets; Westport Sewer vote continued

Clatsop County budget committee members voted on May 7 to adopt proposed budgets and tax rates for three service districts and to continue consideration of the Westport Sewer District until May 14.

The committee approved the Rural Law Enforcement District (RLED) budget, including the staffing and program changes presented by county staff and the sheriff's office. The presentation noted a 7.9% increase in personnel services driven by a roughly 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment and higher health and retirement costs, plus the reallocation of a half‑time deputy from marine patrol to enforcement as a special detective. Materials and services were flagged for an approximately $92,000 increase, attributed in part to a records management system (RMS) subscription and higher dispatch costs tied to staffing and a new CAD system. Sheriff Reichel said the current dispatch/records system is “probably 25 years old without any major updates” and described benefits including better reporting, integrated evidence and civil modules, and mobile data access for fire and patrol staff.

Nut graf: The committee's approvals move these districts into the county's proposed 2025–26 budget framework while leaving one district—Westport Sewer—open for further item‑level reconciliation of line items before final committee action.

The committee approved the RLED budget with a property tax rate identified on the record as 0.7195 per $1,000 of assessed value. County staff explained some current‑year grant receipts (about $500,000) that reduced this year's expenditures and will be spent in the upcoming fiscal year. Committee members also discussed a new justice reinvestment (JRP) deputy time line item tied to community corrections and noted timber revenue remains a risk to future years.

The 4‑H and Extension Service District also elected officers from within its members and approved its 2025–26 budget. County staff said personnel increases in the district budget reflect a 2.98% cost‑of‑living adjustment for support staff (about $323,000) and operational costs (approximately $141,000) for utilities, facilities, and administration; contingency was raised largely due to a higher beginning balance. The motion to approve the district budget and the proposed tax rate (recorded in the meeting as “point of 5.34¢ per thousand”) carried without recorded opposition.

Road District No. 1, which is managed by the three‑member board of commissioners (acting as the budget committee for that district), was presented as a relatively linear budget with small decreases tied to indirect costs and a reduced beginning balance. The committee approved the Road District No. 1 budget with a tax rate of 1.0175 per $1,000.

By contrast, review of the Westport Sewer District raised questions about how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pass‑through transfers and two separate funds (the service fund and a separate sewer equipment/capital fund) were being displayed in the packet. Staff explained ARPA transfers appear as “transfer from American Rescue” on funding source lines while expenditures show in materials/services and capital; staff said ARPA obligations are in place and must be spent by the December 31, 2026 deadline. Because of a discrepancy committee members flagged between the packet and the slides for “special payments” figures, the committee voted to continue the Westport Sewer District item to a May 14 meeting so staff could reconcile and re‑present the detailed line items. Two members recorded abstentions for the continuation vote because they rejoined with partial connectivity and had missed parts of the discussion.

Votes at a glance: - Rural Law Enforcement District — action: budget adoption; recorded tax rate: 0.7195 per $1,000; outcome: approved (motion passed). - 4‑H & Extension Service District — action: budget adoption; recorded tax rate referenced as “point of 5.34¢ per thousand” in the meeting; outcome: approved (motion passed). - Road District No. 1 — action: budget adoption; tax rate: 1.0175 per $1,000; outcome: approved (motion passed). - Westport Sewer District — action: continuation; outcome: continued to May 14 for further reconciliation (motion passed; two abstentions noted).

Ending: County staff said reconciled pages and clarifying materials will be provided for the May 14 session, which will be held in person at the Boynton Building and offered virtually.