County adopts FY 2026–27 fee schedule, raises domestic‑partnership declaration fee to $85; commissioners declare conflicts under new ethics guidance

The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution July 21 to finalize the fiscal year 2026–27 countywide fee schedule, correcting an administrative oversight and aligning the county fee for declarations of domestic partnership with state law.

John Steyer, presenting the staff report, told the board that Senate Bill 97A (2025) authorized an additional fee of up to $35 for marriage licenses or registering a declaration of domestic partnership, and that the county's fee schedule update increases the declaration of domestic partnership fee to $85 to align with the marriage license fee. Steyer also noted 14 environmental‑health fee adjustments that were technical rounding changes and cited ORS language requiring a public hearing before fee increases.

Vice Chair Willie opened the public hearing; Clerk Moss reported no public testimony. A commissioner moved to adopt the fee schedule resolution and the board approved it after commissioners declared actual conflicts of interest under newly issued Oregon government ethics guidance. County counsel Courtney advised how the ethics rules and the 'class' exception apply: officials should declare actual or potential conflicts, but the class exception covers actions affecting a broad group equally; counsel said staff would provide additional written legal advice in a separate forum. The board proceeded under the minimum‑vote exception and approved the resolution on a roll‑call vote.

The approved fee schedule increases the declaration of domestic partnership fee to $85 and makes minor rounding adjustments to 14 environmental health fees. The resolution and the staff report cited the relevant state statutory provisions (as read in the staff presentation) and noted that the ordinance takes effect consistent with adopted procedures.

What happens next: the fee schedule will be implemented as adopted; county counsel said staff will continue to provide clarifying legal guidance about conflict declarations and the class exception in future materials to the board.

Direct quotes: "The revised fee schedule updates the declaration of domestic partnership fee in line with the marriage license fee, increasing it to $85," John Steyer said. County counsel said, "There is an exception to the conflict determination that's called the class determination, which essentially means that if a public official is taking an action that affects them to the same degree, it affects a larger group of people."