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Commission approves emergency rent assistance, fleet and contract-related budget moves
Summary
The board approved a package of budget modifications on June 11, including $750,000 from the City of Portland for emergency rent assistance, a $635,684 fleet contingency appropriation, and one-time payments to cover retroactive pay for corrections deputies and nurses.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on June 11 approved several budget modifications aimed at addressing immediate program needs and contract obligations.
The board authorized a $750,000 appropriation from the City of Portland to the Department of County Human Services (DCHS) to support emergency rent-assistance distribution this fiscal year. Sarah Moresy, deputy chief operating officer, said the county is expected to distribute $4.5 million across two fiscal years through a combination of county-run and community-based providers and that the immediate funds will be administered via Bienestar de la Familia and 2-1-1 intake. Rachel Pearl, DCHS director, said the funds are expected to support roughly 1,000 households across FY26–FY27 and that $500,000 of the total will be used for program operations and administrative costs.
The board also approved a $635,684 appropriation from fleet contingency to the Department of Community Assets and (DCA) fleet program to cover higher-than-forecasted repair, parts and fuel costs; DCA staff said no new revenue is required and that the appropriation simply aligns appropriations with existing revenue.
In two separate vote items, the board approved one-time, fiscal-year 2026 general-fund appropriations to cover retroactive pay under recently ratified contracts: about $3.6 million to cover retro pay for correctional deputies (affecting roughly 411 positions) and about $580,000 for retro pay tied to the Oregon Nurses Association contract (affecting ~181 positions). County budget staff said ongoing costs were already accounted for in the FY27 budget, and the FY26 allocations allow immediate payments to staff.
Each budget modification passed by roll-call vote with commissioners expressing appreciation for rapid implementation where needed. The board directed staff to continue reporting on program rollout and to provide quarterly updates on the emergency rent-assistance distribution.
