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Council hears agency budget briefs tied to governor's recommended budget
Summary
Agency leaders updated the Early Learning Council on governor's recommended budget (GRB) implications for housing, higher education, behavioral health, DELC operations and early literacy; notable items included OHS 'care' program omission, OHA children's behavioral health investments, and DELC literacy and licensing staffing funds.
On Dec. 11 the council heard briefings from agency representatives on the implications of the governor's recommended budget for early childhood programs.
Chelsea Bunch of Oregon Housing and Community Services said the agency did not secure the additional $10 million request for the CARE colocated facilities fund but highlighted other GRB investments to sustain rehousing, eviction prevention and tribal housing grants. "I think we requested and asked for another $10,000,000. That did not make it in the governor's recommended budget," Bunch said.
Ben Cannon (Higher Education Coordinating Commission) noted the HECC request to fund an early learning professionals grant for college expenses was not included in the GRB and the GRB is largely a current‑service level proposal for higher education. Tay Baden (Oregon Health Authority) outlined hundreds of millions in ongoing OHA funding requests but highlighted child‑focused behavioral health investments, including $10 million for psychiatric/substance use treatment capacity for children and roughly $25 million proposed for behavioral‑health workforce supports.
DELC deputy director Joel Matlin summarized DELC wins in the GRB: backfilling ERDC with $117M general fund for ARPA wind‑down, ~$12.5M added for birth‑through‑5 literacy work (bringing the total near $20M), and several FTE and operational POPs including childcare licensing staffing increases. Agency speakers said the council should expect ongoing engagement during the legislative session and that the council will meet in Salem during the session to coordinate advocacy and monitoring of bills affecting early childhood.
