Multnomah County Budget Process
Every year the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners adopts a budget for Multnomah County. The formal process begins when the County Chair releases the Proposed budget in April. For fiscal year 2026, the Proposed budget will be released and posted to the Budget Office website on April 24, 2025.
The County then begins a series of countywide and department-specific work sessions to review and deliberate on budget proposals, as well as public hearings to gather feedback from the community. At any time during the process, the Board can request changes through budget amendments.
The first vote occurs when the Board of Commissioners, acting as the Budget Committee, approves the budget. Oregon Budget Law allows, but does not require, changes to the budget document prior to approval, which is scheduled for May 8, 2025.
After the budget work sessions and public hearings have concluded, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners votes on the adoption of the budget (including any amendments). This year the FY 2026 budget adoption is scheduled for June 12th, 2025.
Work sessions are scheduled by the Board Clerk; details will be available online on the Board Clerk's site soon.
How to Participate in the Multnomah County Budget process:
Public Hearings:
Public feedback and community participation are very important in establishing budgets. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will hold public hearings on the FY 2026 budget to provide stakeholders multiple opportunities to officially comment on the operating and capital budgets.
Watch Chair Jessica Vega Pederson's Virtual Budget Town Hall
Upcoming Public Budget Events:
Event: Multnomah County Public Budget Hearing #1
Date: Wednesday, May 14 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Multnomah County Board Room (501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland)
Event: Multnomah County Public Budget Hearing #2
Date: Wednesday, May 21 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: East County (location to be determined)
Event: Multnomah County Public Budget Hearing #3
Date: Wednesday, May 28 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Virtual (link to come)
Budget Work Sessions:
All budget work sessions will be held in-person at the Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR, in the Boardroom, and will also be available to watch virtually on the MultcoBoard YouTube channel. Public comment does not occur during the budget work sessions, but can be heard at the regular Thursday morning Board meetings. Please use the public testimony form to sign up to testify in person or to submit written testimony on non-agenda items. You may also use the forms available in the boardroom to sign up to testify on non-agenda items, but please be aware that the non-agenda speaker list may be full prior to the date of the meeting. The deadline to sign up to testify virtually for the next scheduled Thursday Board meeting is Wednesday at 4pm.
Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission (TSCC) hearing:
The Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission (TSCC) holds a hearing on the County budget, and community members can also provide public comment. However, at this hearing, you would primarily be speaking to the TSCC board, not the Board of County Commissioners. The TSCC hearing is scheduled for June 4th, 2025 at 9am. Information on how to participate and sign-up for public comment at the TSCC hearing can be found on the TSCC website in addition to the Multnomah County Board Meeting website.
Apply to be on the Community Budget Advisory Committees (CBAC):
Community members are always encouraged to apply to be on the Community Budget Advisory Committees (CBAC) to review budget submissions and make recommendations. The CBAC committees have already been selected for this budget process, however, we encourage you to apply to become a CBAC member in late spring/early summer for next year's budget process. Please see the CBAC website for more information.
Community members can also talk to the Office of Community Involvement to discuss additional volunteer opportunities.
Additional Opportunities to Provide Public Comment
Board Hearings to Approve and Adopt the Budget
The votes on approving and adopting the budget (see above for more details) occur during regularly-scheduled Thursday Board meetings. Comments on agenda items are heard before the Board votes on that item. Use the public testimony form to sign up to testify in person or virtually, or to submit written testimony on agenda items. Individuals can also use the forms available in the boardroom to sign up to testify on agenda items. The deadline to sign up to testify virtually for the next scheduled Thursday Board meeting is Wednesday at 4pm.
- Hearing to Approve the Budget - Thursday, May 8, 2025
- Hearing to Adopt the Budget - Thursday, June 12, 2025