April 24, 2025
Today is a starting point for the Commission’s consideration of the FY 2026 budget.
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards looks forward to discussions with the Commission and feedback from the community as work begins to craft a budget that moves the County forward and gets after our biggest challenges.
Following the release of the FY 2026 proposed budget, Commissioner Brim-Edwards released the following statement:
Throughout the budget process, I will be focused on priorities important to residents in my district of East Portland: homelessness, access to mental health and substance use services, public safety, and economic growth and opportunity.
Homelessness & Housing
Given the Commission’s shared commitment to addressing homelessness, it is imperative we prioritize funding to maintain existing shelter capacity and fulfill our commitment to deliver on the Community Sheltering Strategy.
With more than 14,000 individuals homeless in our County, I want to guarantee that this budget prioritizes proven strategies to make homelessness brief, rare and nonrecurring. It’s unclear whether the proposed budget will expand our sheltering capacity and reduce the number of individuals living unsheltered on the streets.
The City of Portland will also soon begin their budget process, and it's essential we’re considering budget priorities that advance the shared County-City strategies in the Homelessness Response Action Plan to make meaningful reductions in homelessness, while connecting more people to long-term housing placements.
Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment Services
There are many reductions in the Health Department that are concerning, including the school-based mental health services to children and youth. I am looking forward to the discussions of the Health Department’s proposed investments and reductions and how we continue to offer essential services.
I was heartened to see continued investments and allocations of state dollars in the permanent 24/7 Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center. This is an important front door to services and a connection to recovery services and an alternative for first responders to take individuals to that isn’t an emergency department, jail, or leaving them on the street. It builds on the County’s opening of the 13 sobering beds in the Pathway Center this month.
Community Safety
Neighborhoods in East Portland – including Hazelwood, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Mt. Scott-Arleta and Lents – experience higher rates of violence and public safety issues compared to other neighborhoods. Additionally, a notable number of businesses have closed in East Portland, leaving retail and other storefront properties vacant.
It is imperative we invest in and expand gun safety strategies and initiatives with a record of successfully connecting people to services, lowering crime rates and reducing recidivism.
I am glad this year’s budget maintains this commitment to provide support to the Sheriff’s Office to adequately staff our jails which is important for the safety of staff, adults in custody and community. In addition, although it appears the DA’s one-time funded positions were moved to ongoing funding, overall reductions were made in the DA’s office which will negatively impact the effectiveness and efficiency of our system of justice in the County and impacting community safety and crime victim support services.
During last year’s budget deliberations, I offered amendments that were adopted to better support community safety with investments in the Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s office. Many of those amendments were adopted, although my amendment to provide additional support to the Sheriff’s Office to fill staffing positions was only partially adopted and then had to be mid-year backfilled to prevent emergency releases from jails. I’m pleased that this year’s starting point for the FY 2026 Budget includes funding that allows the Sheriff’s Office to better staff our jails.
Improving Animal Services
Multnomah County Animal Services has struggled for years with an outdated facility that has been overcrowded and does not adequately provide for the needs of animals in County care. It is imperative that the project move forward, and I will be looking to secure funding for the next phase of the design process.
Economic Empowerment
I am going to be looking at how we support employment readiness, workforce development services, and economic development in the County, particularly as part of the deployment of SHS dollars and Video Lottery Funding, which should be focused on economic development. The Chair’s proposal cuts more than $1M in employment-related assistance, which is critically important to East Portland.
The County General Fund and our ability to provide core services relies on a strong economy. Throughout this budget process, I will be focused on making strategic investments that provide direct community benefits and advance work to create a countywide economic development strategy that supports local businesses and improves household incomes of all residents.
Investing in East Portland
In addition to these countywide budget priorities, I am committed to working in District 3 with East Portland residents on projects that promote economic empowerment, community safety and neighborhood livability. This includes supporting projects, community initiatives and organizations that provide community services in District 3, as well as starting a community process to reimagine use for the Hansen Building site in the Hazelwood Neighborhood.
Share Your Thoughts
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards encourages community input and feedback to the proposed budget, which is critical to ensure the County’s budget reflects the needs and priorities of the community.
READ: Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards Budget Priorities Letter
LEARN MORE: Multnomah County FY 2026 Budget Process