Multnomah County Budget Process
The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners adopt an annual budget for Multnomah County and its service districts. The County Chair releases the Proposed Budget in April and the County Commission acting as the Budget Committee begins deliberation. The proposed budget will be released and posted to the Budget Office website on April 24, 2025 for review.
The Budget Committee will hold a series of department budget work sessions to review budget proposals. Also during this time, the County Commissioners host public hearings that allow the community to deliberate and provide public comment on the budget.
Work sessions are scheduled by the Board Clerk; details will be available online on the Board Clerk's site closer to the work session dates.
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. Public hearing dates and a calendar of Budget work sessions will be posted soon. Information on how to attend a public hearing and sign-up for public input and feedback will be made available closer to the date.
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 Thursday morning Board meeting. Sign-up at the Board Clerk table inside the boardroom to comment on non-agenda items or use the virtual public testimony form to sign up to testify or to submit written testimony on non-agenda items. 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 any other options, including the CBACs since that office helps facilitate the CBAC process.
Additional Opportunities to Provide Public Comment
Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission Budget Hearing
The Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission (TSCC) holds a hearing on the County budget, and community members can also provide public comment. 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.
Board Hearing to Adopt the Budget
After the budget work sessions and public hearings have concluded, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners consider the adoption of the budget at a public hearing held during its regular board meeting in June of each year. This year the FY 2026 Budget adoption is scheduled for June 12th, 2025.