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Klamath County commissioners approve CAFA grant application after sharp criticism of state funding program
Summary
The Board of Commissioners approved a grant application to Oregon’s County Assessment Function Funding Assessment (CAFA) program, authorizing $3,352,254 in appropriations for participating departments after one commissioner criticized the program as overly centralized.
Klamath County commissioners voted April 29 to approve a grant application to the Oregon Department of Revenue’s County Assessment Function Funding Assessment (CAFA) program and authorized the chair to sign the application for fiscal year 2025–26.
The application seeks funding to help the county comply with state property tax statutes (ORS 308.232 and related provisions) and would cover functions in the assessor, clerk, finance, GIS, IT, tax collector and treasurer offices. The resolution submitted to the board listed the county appropriation for the expenditures described in the application as $3,352,254.
The grant application requires board approval to meet a May 1 application deadline and, if awarded, would apply to the 2025–26 fiscal year. A motion to approve the resolution passed with the chair and commissioners voting in favor.
During discussion a commissioner criticized the CAFA program’s structure and the state’s role. In several sharp remarks the commissioner said the program was unnecessary and repeatedly described it as counterproductive, at one point calling it, “possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life.” The same commissioner also said: “They take 10% and then they give it back,” and asked rhetorically, “Can we have our money back?”
County staff described the CAFA program as a state-administered grant that provides funds to counties to assist compliance with the Oregon property tax system and cited statutory references in the application. The board’s motion record shows the vote passed; the chair recorded an aye and the motion carried.
Why it matters: The CAFA program distributes state-managed funds to counties for property-tax administration activities. In Klamath County the application would fund multiple departments’ assessment-related work. Commissioners’ public criticisms during the meeting underline local tensions over state-directed funding mechanisms and county fiscal autonomy.
The board did not amend or add conditions to the application during the meeting. Additional details about the exact uses of the requested funds were summarized in the application materials read into the record; the application lists participating departments and the total appropriation but does not break down the $3,352,254 into line-item spending in the text read aloud at the meeting.
The board’s approval completes the local step required to submit the application by the state deadline. The transcript does not record whether the grant was later awarded.
