Josephine County Budget Committee reviews department budgets, flags staffing and revenue gaps

The Josephine County Budget Committee on May 27 reviewed proposed budgets from multiple county departments for fiscal year 2026–2027, hearing presentations from the Clerk, Assessor, Treasurer, Surveyor, Building Safety, Planning and Veterans Services and discussing staffing needs, technology investments, fee structures and revenue projections.

The committee, chaired by Commissioner Gary Richardson, received statistics and budget proposals aimed at maintaining mandated services while responding to staffing pressures and shifting fee revenues. County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels outlined the Clerk’s statutory duties and operational goals, including expanded online services, continued digitization of historical records and pursuit of a Secretary of State grant to fund a ballot sorter for signature verification. The Clerk’s office reported service-level figures such as recorded instruments (projected 14,000 for 2026–27), passport applications (projected 1,900) and voter registrations processed (projected 3,000).

The meeting underscored staffing constraints in several offices. Assessor Chris Parton told the committee the office manages roughly $17 billion in taxable market value and $10 billion in assessed value and is operating below the Oregon Department of Revenue’s recommended staffing level (the presentation noted the office operates at roughly 70% of recommended staffing). Parton discussed the tradeoffs between maintaining current operations and investing in technology, including potential artificial intelligence applications, while noting limits on available personnel.

Surveyor Peter Allen described persistent vacancies in his office and requested restoration of a Senior Department Specialist position (0.60 FTE), estimating the additional net general-fund cost at $33,225 and a total new cost of $44,300 split between the General Fund (75%) and the Public Land Corner Preservation Fund (25%). Allen emphasized the Surveyor’s statutory duties under ORS Chapter 209 and highlighted declining filings and the need to preserve original Public Land Survey System corner monuments.

Planning Director James Black presented a budget showing projected Planning Division revenues of $475,350 against proposed expenditures of $777,500, creating a general-fund need of $302,150 for 2026–27. Black noted that adding one FTE accounts for an $87,450 increase in the general-fund request compared with the prior year and recommended the committee consider fee adjustments to better align cost of service with revenue.

Treasurer Dustin Calvo reported investment earnings exceeding $2.5 million during the fiscal year and said approximately 91% of current-year property taxes had been collected. Calvo discussed investment strategies, electronic payment processing improvements and plans to increase public access to Treasury information.

Human Resources Director Michelle Shaw presented the Elected Officials Compensation Committee’s recommendations for targeted pay adjustments: 10% increases proposed for the Sheriff and District Attorney; 4% for Legal Counsel; 3% for the Treasurer and Surveyor; and no change recommended for the Assessor, Clerk or Commissioners. The committee framed the recommendations as aimed at improving competitiveness while recognizing fiscal constraints.

Throughout the presentations Budget Officer Arthur O’Hare answered committee questions on budget assumptions, personnel costs, internal service fund allocations, reserve funding and revenue sources. No public testimony was offered during the meeting’s public comment period. Chair Richardson confirmed the committee would reconvene on May 28, 2026, to continue the budget review before adjournment at 4:02 p.m.

The Budget Committee did not take formal votes on any items during the May 27 session; deliberations and follow-up questions will continue at the next meeting.