Board of County Commissioners
The Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) conducts legislative activities of the county. The BoCC has many duties, including:
- Set county policy
- Sit as the budget committee
- Review and amend the executive budget
- Hold hearings
- Adopt the County budget
- Act as liaisons to departments, advisory boards and commissions
- Make changes in administrative departments
- Fill vacancies in elective offices
- Adopt labor agreements
Code
The County Code is a compilation of the locally-enacted laws that govern the county's work. The Charter provides the foundation, rather than details, for how the county operates. (See: County code)
Community Member
A county community member is anyone who lives, works, plays, worships, shops, studies, or is otherwise involved in Multnomah County. Community members may live outside the county but are regularly involved in county life. They may contribute to and be served by county services. The county, and the CRC, considers the needs and opinions of all community members in Multnomah County.
County Employees
The county employs more than 6,000 people. Employees are hired by the county to perform county duties, report to their manager or boss, and are not elected by voters. County employees include full time and part time, represented and non-represented staff. Some policies for county employees also apply to contractors, interns, and volunteers.
County Resident
The term “resident” can have different meanings depending on how it is used. One definition of county resident is any person who primarily lives within the Multnomah County boundaries (check your address). Using that definition, residents:
- are aged newborn to over 100 years old.
- have all immigration statuses, including no documentation.
- may or may not be registered Multnomah County voters
- may have lived in the county for between one night and 100+ years!
- live in urban, rural, and suburban areas.
- speak many languages, and may not speak, read, or understand English.
- have a wide range of disabilities and abilities.
- may own their home, rent, be in jails or the juvenile detention center, live in RVs or vehicles, live outside, stay in shelters, or "couch surf"
County residents help fund county services through their taxes. Residents are the primary population served by Multnomah County.
Elected Officials
An elected official is elected by the voters of Multnomah County and is directly accountable to the people of Multnomah County. There are eight elected officials in Multnomah County:
- The County Chair
- Four County Commissioners (one from each district)
- Auditor
- Sheriff
- District Attorney*
* The District Attorney is a state official but is elected by county voters.
Elector
An elector is a person who is qualified to vote under Article II, section 2, of the Oregon Constitution.
Home Rule Charter
A Home Rule Charter is the governing document for an Oregon home rule county or city. Many people think of it as a constitution for the county. Originally, counties functioned almost exclusively as agents of the state government. Their every activity had to be either authorized or mandated by state law. In 1958, that all changed. An amendment to the Oregon Constitution authorized counties to adopt “home rule” charters. A 1973 state law granted all counties power to exercise broad authority. Because of this Oregon has high levels of local authority. Voters have the power to adopt and amend their own county government organization. Nine Oregon counties, including Multnomah County, have home rule charters. (See: County Home Rule in Oregon 2005 Report)
Laws
Laws are broadly applicable binding rules passed by legislatures or other legal processes, which includes laws adopted through the initiative or referral process in Oregon. The charter is a law. Laws enacted by the county board are also called ordinances; the voters can also adopt ordinances through the initiative or referral process. The county’s ordinances are compiled in the Code. Laws are legally enforceable by authorities.
Multnomah County
A county is a government body which is responsible for conducting business within geographic boundaries. Multnomah County is an established county in the state of Oregon. The county government covers an area larger than a city while being within a larger state.
Ordinance
An ordinance is a law passed by local governments, like a city council or county board, or by the voters through the initiative or referral process. Examples include: zoning, noise restrictions, animal licensing, county taxes, or standards for street construction.
Policy
A policy is a specific guideline or procedure that directs day-to-day operations and employee conduct. They are often created by managers or teams to guide work.
Public Meetings Law
Public Meetings Law is an Oregon law that ensures the public is aware of the discussions and decisions of governing bodies. The law also covers information that contributes to decisions. Governing bodies have to follow the rules in the law. The members of governing bodies are responsible for understanding and complying with the law, and can be fined if they do not comply.
The Charter Review Committee will comply with Public Meetings Law. Members are encouraged to take a state-approved class on public meetings to learn more.
Public Records Law
Oregon has open government laws that promote democracy and transparency. With a few exceptions, all government records of any kind are considered public records that are subject to disclosure unless an exemption applies. A public record is any record with information about the work of public business that is prepared, owned, used or kept by a public body. Any member of the public can request records from Multnomah County.
All materials created or used by the Charter Review Committee will be in the public record. (See: State of Oregon)
Voter
Voters are registered to vote in Multnomah County. Learn about voter registration and eligibility with the Elections Office. Multnomah County voters will vote on any amendments produced by the CRC in their ballot.