Washington County unveils proposed $2 billion budget, cuts transfers and eyes levies for public safety and libraries

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Washington County officials on Monday outlined a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that totals roughly $2 billion and would narrow a projected general‑fund shortfall by cutting transfers and program spending while asking voters to consider two levies in November.

County Administrator and budget officer Tanya Angie presented the proposed budget at a Board of Commissioners town hall on May 12. Angie said an early general‑fund forecast showed “a $20,500,000 gap between revenues and expenditures,” and that staff used reductions and one‑time resources to bring the proposed budget into balance. “At the end of the day, the math has to be correct. 2 plus 2 has to equal 4,” Angie said.

The proposed budget breaks the county’s total into special funds and the general fund; special funds are restricted and make up the bulk of the plan, while the general fund — which supports elections, the county jail and other countywide services — accounts for a smaller share. Angie said special funds represent about 84% of the total and the general fund about 16%.

Why it matters: the plan would change funding levels for county services that residents use daily — from road and library support to public safety and human services — and would put two local levies before voters if the board moves them to the ballot. The levies and the cuts are the county’s primary tools to close structural revenue gaps that staff and commissioners said are driven in part by Oregon’s constrained property tax system.

Major reductions and program changes - General‑fund transfers: The proposed budget reduces long‑standing transfers by $12 million. Angie identified the largest reductions as $8.7 million to the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP) and $3.9 million to Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS). The county has used such transfers for decades and has been reducing them as part of rebalancing. - Public safety and justice: The proposal includes $7.1 million in general‑fund reductions in public safety and justice programs, including about $4.1 million tied to vacant patrol and jail deputy positions. The county is proposing contracting juvenile detention services with Marion County (previously contracted with Multnomah County) as part of cost adjustments. - Child support and other services: The county proposes returning its child support program to the state, a change Angie said would reduce county costs by about $1 million and 19 full‑time equivalent positions; Angie characterized child support as a nonmandated service the county had elected to operate. - General government and equity work: General‑government reductions total about $2.8 million, including an $840,000 reduction affecting the Office of Access and Opportunity. The budget would eliminate the county’s standalone sustainability office and some positions; county staff said sustainability and climate work will be continued through other departments, including emergency management and public health, though details will be provided in follow‑up materials. - Housing, health and human services: That functional area faces roughly $3.3 million in general‑fund reductions. Angie said some services in that area receive significant state and federal grant funding and remain constrained by grant terms. - One‑time funding caution and ARPA: Angie warned against relying on one‑time revenues to fund ongoing services, noting American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that must be spent by their deadline and the risk of creating future cliffs when those funds expire.

Revenue options and levies Angie told the town hall the board is considering new revenues including fee updates, higher franchise fees, other local option levies and bonds. The board has authorized up to $150 million in bonding for MSTIP projects as part of a longer‑term capital strategy.

Angie and staff said the board is reviewing proposals to refer two levies to the November 2025 ballot: a public‑safety levy proposed at 66¢ and a library levy proposed at 37¢. The county will conduct further work sessions, polling and public outreach on those measures this summer, Angie said.

Public process and next steps Commission Chair Catherine Harrington and staff reminded residents that the budget committee — made up of the five county commissioners and five appointed community members — will continue review in meetings this week and hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 20. The board will hold a final public hearing on June 17 and, if it adopts the budget, county staff must submit the adopted budget to the state before the fiscal year begins July 1. County staff said questions and the town hall Q&A will be posted online; a preliminary question‑and‑answer document was expected Friday, May 16.

Public questions at the town hall focused on the levies and on how sustainability and climate‑related work will continue without a standalone sustainability office. County staff said those and related questions will be addressed in the posted Q&A and in upcoming budget presentations.

For more information, the county directed residents to the budget web page and to submit questions by email to finance_budget@washingtoncounty.or.gov. The county also encouraged attendance at the budget committee meetings and the May 20 public hearing.

Ending: The county’s proposed budget would change funding and service priorities across multiple departments and is contingent on subsequent budget committee actions, board decisions and any voter approval required for local levies. Residents can review detailed budget documents and submit questions to county staff ahead of the May 20 and June 17 hearings.