Clatsop County presents proposed $116.3 million 2025–26 budget with $14 million BRIC pass-through

Clatsop County officials on April 30 presented a proposed $116.3 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that assumes a $14,000,000 federal BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) pass-through grant for a disaster‑mitigation project with Columbia Memorial Hospital, projects roughly 4% assessed‑value growth, and includes planned reductions of about seven full‑time equivalent positions.

County staff delivered the budget message at the first 2025 budget committee meeting, saying the proposed plan balances projected revenues and expenditures for 2025–26 while maintaining a general‑fund reserve above the county’s stated policy targets. "The total proposed budget, excluding the four service districts, is approximately $116,300,000," said Andy Sullivan, a county budget presenter. Staff emphasized the BRIC pass‑through is not yet guaranteed and would flow through the county to Columbia Memorial Hospital if awarded.

The budget message explained why staff included the BRIC grant in the proposed totals: the county is serving as a conduit for federal pass‑through funds tied to a mitigation project. Monica (staff member) told the committee, "If the funds don't come in, they don't get passed through; that $14,000,000 is never received. The $14,000,000 is never spent." Committee members pressed for clarity about the grant’s uncertainty and were told that, if the grant is not awarded, the county will not record or spend those funds.

Why it matters: county leaders said the budget is designed to keep reserves at prudent levels in a period of uncertainty for state and federal funding. County leadership noted that roughly 60% of Oregon counties face deficits entering 2025–26 and that Clatsop’s approach is to preserve runway by aiming for a reserve near 30% (policy minimum 20%). Maintaining reserves and reducing ongoing costs were framed as ways to avoid using local discretionary revenue to backfill potential losses in state or federal program funding.

Key numbers and policy choices - Total proposed county budget (excluding four service districts): approximately $116,300,000, an 18% increase from the prior year’s ~ $98,500,000. Staff said much of that increase reflects budgeting for the $14,000,000 BRIC pass‑through and about $2,700,000 of state pass‑through funds for sheltering, rehousing and mental‑health supports. - General fund: projected to end FY 2024–25 at roughly a 37% fund balance; proposed FY 2025–26 shows a projected reserve of about 28% under a conservative 90% expected expenditure rate, with a modeled scenario that could leave the fund near 38% by June 30, 2026 if historical underspending patterns hold. - Personnel: countywide personnel costs represent about 42% of the budget; the proposal assumes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment and reflects a net reduction of about 7 FTE (roughly 3% of total staffing), most of those in the general fund. - Revenues: staff modeled about 4% assessed‑value growth and noted potential TLT (transient lodging tax) changes—the board has discussed an ordinance to raise the countywide TLT by 2¢ if the legislature does not change post‑2003 restrictions on how tourist taxes may be spent. - Capital: an increase in capital outlay of roughly $798,000 included funding for the Westport Bypass Road to move truck traffic from residential areas.

Functional‑area highlights - Public safety and justice: proposed at about $27.9 million (a ~3.7% increase largely tied to personnel cost adjustments); funding split roughly 51% dedicated/49% discretionary. - Public health: proposed at about $9.5 million; staff said roughly 98% of funding is from dedicated federal grants and fees, with pass‑through mental‑health funding accounting for much of the year‑over‑year change. - General government: proposed at about $24.3 million; staff noted a reclassification of roughly $3,000,000 of social‑support funding from general government into the land‑use/housing/transportation/economic‑development functional area to better reflect program usage. - Land use, housing, transportation, economic development and capital: proposed at about $50.9 million, driven primarily by the pass‑through BRIC grant and other federal/state passthroughs. - Culture and recreation and service districts: largely status quo; service districts (rural law enforcement, road district, Westport Sewer Service District, and 4‑H/Extension) together total about $11.1 million in dedicated funds.

Questions and next steps Committee members asked about the BRIC grant’s status and the county’s contingency plan if federal funding does not materialize. Monica (staff member) responded the county is acting as a conduit; if the BRIC award is canceled or frozen, the county would not record or pass through the $14 million. Committee member Clara Stroff asked specifically whether the program had been canceled; staff replied that conversations were ongoing and that the budget lists the grant to avoid delay if funds are awarded.

The committee did not take a formal vote at the April 30 meeting. Staff reminded members the budget committee will continue review: the group will meet again Wednesday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. (virtual) for more detailed review and will make recommendations before the board’s public hearing and planned adoption on June 11.

Quotes "Clatsop County is not unique in the challenges that we're facing right now," a county official said, noting broader state and federal funding uncertainty facing local governments. "If the funds don't come in, they don't get passed through; that $14,000,000 is never received. The $14,000,000 is never spent," Monica (staff member) said about the BRIC pass‑through. Commissioner Leanne Thompson said: "It really is not just the numbers, but it's how we live together and take care of each other," thanking staff and committee members for their work.

Ending With the April 30 orientation complete, county staff asked budget committee members to submit detailed questions to staff ahead of the May 7 meeting so staff can research more complicated items. The board will hold a public meeting on June 11 at which adoption of the annual budget is scheduled.