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Commissioners press for clearer plan as NORCOR faces steep budget shortfall
Summary
Hood River County commissioners heard that NORCOR is facing a severe funding gap—after a $1 million balance in 2023–24 the facility could have as little as $40,000 by July 2025—and discussed options including a permanent tax rate, downsizing, or operational changes but voiced reservations about asking voters for a long‑term levy without clearer service descriptions.
County commissioners spent a substantial portion of their Nov. 18 meeting discussing a funding crisis at NORCOR (North Oregon Regional Corrections), the four‑county jail operation that serves Hood River County.
Commissioner Weathers said NORCOR’s operating model is struggling: Hood River provides roughly 40% of the subsidies, Wasco about 50% and the remaining counties much smaller shares. He told the board the beginning fund balance for 2023–24 was about $1 million but that NORCOR now projects a FY 2025–26 beginning balance of roughly $40,000 — an amount he said would not cover payroll.
"The expectation for the '25/'26 fiscal year that begins in July 2025 is a balance of $40,000; this amount does not cover payroll," Commissioner Weathers said, and added that the facility’s operating costs now far outweigh available resources. He said NORCOR is studying options including a permanent tax rate, increased subsidies, downsizing or staff reductions and seeking operational efficiencies.
Commissioner Babitz pressed for more detail before considering a ballot measure: he asked what services would be delivered with and without a proposed permanent tax rate and warned that a permanent rate could be more costly over the long term. Babitz described fluctuation in inmate population and contract placements — including fewer U.S. Marshals placements and neighboring counties moving inmates elsewhere — as complicating factors that make revenue unpredictable.
Board members also noted that when NORCOR stopped admitting certain contracted populations (the discussion referenced ICE placements), anticipated revenues changed and the multi‑county governance structure adds complexity. Commissioners signaled shared concern about long‑term subsidies and emphasized that staff should return with clearer options, costed service levels and an explanation of what a district/permanent rate would buy.
What’s next: Commissioners asked NORCOR staff to develop clearer financial scenarios and service tradeoffs before the county considers a ballot measure or commitment to a permanent tax rate.
