Deschutes County officials hear end-of-session legislative update as budget uncertainty grows

Doug Riggs, speaking on behalf of Deschutes County, told county commissioners on June 6 that the Oregon Legislature is in the final weeks of its session and that multiple high-profile budget and policy items remain unsettled.

“There's a dash-10 amendment on Senate Bill 1153 that is posted on OLIS,” Riggs said, describing an amendment that would add a fiscal note and exempt municipal entities while leaving irrigators, farmers and other private water users subject to new procedures. Riggs said the amendment carries a roughly $500,000 fiscal note and would send the bill to the Ways and Means Committee.

The update came during a standing legislative briefing. Commissioners asked for clarity on bills that could affect county services and local funding streams, including the transportation package, community corrections funding, the transient lodging tax and sheltering funds.

Why it matters: county staff said several budget decisions could change county operations or local providers’ ability to deliver services. Riggs noted that reductions to community corrections and to workforce and shelter programs have been proposed in Ways and Means and that some stakeholders are pushing to…