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Marion County approves $299,650 reimbursement to OHA; public‑health contract adjusted
Summary
The board authorized a $299,650 repayment to the Oregon Health Authority for unspent behavioral‑health funds from the 2017–2019 biennium and approved an amendment that shifts $120,206.28 in COVID dollars from fiscal 2023–24 into the current fiscal year for public‑health purposes.
Marion County Health and Human Services told the board Wednesday that it will repay $299,650 to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) covering unutilized behavioral‑health funds from the 2017–2019 biennium, and the board approved the funding transaction.
Ryan Matthews, HHS administrator, said the behavioral‑health reconciliation process can run long and that the county had set aside funds from that period to ensure it could complete the settlement once OHA provided final figures. Matthews said a payment is now required to reconcile the 2017–2019 contract; once the repayment is processed, some additional previously restricted funds will be released for operational use in future budgeting cycles.
Commissioners expressed frustration about the length of time taken by state reconciliation. One commissioner urged that the matter be raised with state lawmakers, saying it is “a disservice to our customers” that funds sit idle while reconciliation lags.
Separately, the board approved Amendment No. 15 to an incoming‑funds intergovernmental agreement with OHA that decreases funding by $120,206.28 for fiscal year 2023–24 (COVID‑related funds that were not spent in that year) and reappropriates those dollars into the current fiscal year, resulting in no net biennium change but allowing the county to use the funding in 2024–25.
Actions taken: the board approved (1) a purchase order for repayment of $299,650 covering the period 07/01/2017–06/30/2019, and (2) Amendment No. 15 to the incoming funds IGA with OHA to decrease $120,206.28 for FY 23–24 and reallocate it into the current fiscal year.
Provenance: both items and supporting explanations were presented by Ryan Matthews, HHS administrator; the board voted to approve both items during the meeting.
