Multnomah County is reallocating funds from various departments and tapping into a contingency reserve account to cover unanticipated security costs this year, which includes funding for a new personal security detail for Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.
On Thursday, the Board of Commissioners approved a total of $2.2 million to be used for Inter-Con Security patrols at county facilities, alarm systems, and the new personal security detail.
Officials explained that a significant portion of this fiscal adjustment stemmed from the county’s failure to include these patrol costs in the current budget and a misestimation of security costs for the fiscal year.
“When we started working with Inter-Con, we reran our staffing models to see if we had the right amount of money for patrol, alarms, and our security costs across the organization,” said Deputy Chief Operating Officer Travis Graves.
“We thought we did, but as it turned out, we did not.”
The new funding will increase the county’s fiscal year 2025 security budget to $9.4 million.
This funding boost will be derived from six different county departments, including health, homeless services, and the library among others.
Additionally, the county is drawing $515,000 from its general fund contingency account to cover the increased security expenses.
Of the funds allocated from the contingency account, approximately $154,000 will be designated for Vega Pederson’s new personal protection, based on a recommendation from Workforce Security Director Dorothy Elmore.
Officials mentioned that this move aligns with practices of various Portland elected leaders, such as former Mayor Ted Wheeler, who have utilized city funds for private security.
According to county spokesperson Cody Bowman, Portland has allocated $665,000 for mayoral security and over $422,000 for city councilors in the fiscal year 2025.
However, for the next fiscal year, the mayor’s security budget currently stands at $200,000, still pending finalization.
Though county commissioners unanimously approved the budget changes, concerns about the protective services for the chair were raised.
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards expressed that historically, the county has not provided a protective detail for any of its elected officials.
“I do think this is something that we just shouldn’t consider baked into the ongoing budget,” she reiterated.
“I think it should be assessed on a regular basis.”
County officials opted not to elaborate on how frequently Vega Pederson is accompanied by security.
County spokesperson Julie Sullivan-Springhetti noted that all employees have the option to request additional security if they feel unsafe.
“Those are all changes made to address the increased threats and violence that began during the COVID-19 era,” Sullivan-Springhetti specified in an email.
Graves informed the board that the county currently has three patrol units overseeing more than 65 county facilities.
Data reveals a decline in reported threats, violence, and overdoses at county buildings from 2023 to 2024.
Between July and December 2023, the county recorded 90 reports of violence, which dropped to 64 for the same timeframe in 2024.
Overdoses also fell from 97 to 39 in those corresponding periods.
Graves stated that this positive trend has persisted thus far this year, attributing much of it to the new Inter-Con contract, enhanced training, and the ability to de-escalate situations effectively.
“We have folks available to respond quickly,” he remarked.
Despite requiring board approval for the fund shift, the county had already commenced spending the allocated money ahead of time.
Commissioners Meghan Moyer and Brim-Edwards expressed concerns regarding the process, with Moyer emphasizing her reluctance to simply “rubber stamp” already implemented budget changes.
“It feels like our hands are pre-tied on this,” Moyer stated.
Graves assured the board that the altered security costs would be incorporated into the county’s budget for the forthcoming fiscal year.
Presently, the county is confronting a $15 million shortfall in its general fund, which is its principal pool of discretionary funds projected to total $732 million.
Simultaneously, the homeless services department is also striving to address a $70 million budget gap.
The budget for Vega Pederson is scheduled to be released on April 24, providing a clearer view of potential cuts the county may have to make.
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