Deschutes County commissioners authorized multiple reductions to unfilled positions on Dec. 17 as departments move to align budgets with projected revenues.

Health Services: Director Holly Harris and business officer Cheryl Smallman outlined a planned elimination of 10.35 unfilled full-time equivalent positions across behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), public health and administrative services. Staff said the eliminations reflect vacancies that have been held and that the action is intended to align FY26 appropriation with expected revenues; the county estimated the eliminations would reduce the department’s staffing cost exposure this fiscal year by about $1.5 million. Harris warned the change will strain remaining staff, particularly in IDD (an estimated 8% staff reduction while enrollment is rising), and could reduce capacity for nurse home‑visiting and epidemiology data work if caseloads increase.

Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff Ty Rupert and business manager Jeff Price described a plan to return 11 approved FTE to the county (removing them from the authorized headcount), citing long-term vacancy patterns and a desire to reallocate resources to patrol and corrections priorities. The sheriff emphasized operational constraints — including days with only a handful of patrol deputies available and a high overtime bill — and said the command team targeted positions they determined they could not fund sustainably. The board approved a resolution reducing 11 approved FTE.

Community Justice: Commissioners approved a supplemental budget that included a net reduction of 11.1 FTE across adult parole, probation and juvenile community justice (about a 13% reduction in those areas) while adding one grant-funded limited-duration family functional therapist position. County staff framed the cuts as responses to lower state contract revenues and a need to prioritize core functions.

Board response and next steps: Commissioners and staff repeatedly stressed efforts to protect core public-safety functions while acknowledging the human-service impacts of reductions. Several members urged legislative advocacy for restored state funding and asked departments to pursue process efficiencies and partnerships with community organizations. The board approved the set of staffing actions and supplemental budgets during the meeting and asked for follow-up reporting on implementation impacts.