Board approves two budget modifications to cover countywide workplace security costs

Multnomah County commissioners approved two budget modifications to address higher-than-estimated security patrol and alarm costs across county facilities.

County staff said a recent RFP for security services and revised staffing models revealed that existing department budgets were insufficient to fund the countywide patrol and monitoring contract. The county proposed reallocating $1,486,000 from departmental operating budgets into the Facilities management internal service fund, and $215,000 from health department working capital to cover the total $1.7 million reallocation. In addition, the board approved a contingency draw of $316,000 to cover courthouse- and DA-related patrol costs that departments could not absorb.

Deputy COO and security staff said the county's security program monitors 65 buildings, has responded to more than 10,000 unique alarms/calls for service, and that metrics for threats, overdoses and graffiti have trended down since new contract and training approaches began. Commissioners raised concerns about ongoing growth in internal service rates, long-term budget impacts on departments, and the process by which contracts were executed before full board appropriation. Library staff and other departments described the reallocation as a technical move that will keep current levels of contracted security in place.

The board approved both modifications by roll-call votes. Commissioners asked staff to provide trending information on internal-service growth for the FY2026 budget process and to keep the commission informed on cost containment and performance metrics. Staff said those data and a new security dashboard will be available soon.