Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez recently gained the support he needed to protect his office’s funding during the county’s budget deliberations, which concluded yesterday with the approval of a $4 billion budget.
Vasquez had raised significant concerns several weeks ago during a press conference about the potential cuts to his office outlined in County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
He argued that the proposed cuts would divert $23 million from the county’s general fund to fill gaps in homeless services, substantially impacting community justice resources.
”That’s almost half of my budget that she pushed over there,” Vasquez stated at the time.
He described the budget cuts as a “direct move in the wrong direction for this community.”
In response, Vega Pederson challenged Vasquez’s claims, asserting that his tactics were misleading.
“No one jumps the line and gets special treatment because they go on TV and talk loudly,” she remarked.
Ultimately, it appears that such tactics paid off for Vasquez. At the conclusion of the two-month budget discussion, his office was allocated $56 million, with even his Organized Retail Theft Task Force remaining intact.
Vasquez expressed gratitude towards County Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Vince Jones-Dixon for their support in ensuring sufficient resources for his office.
Brim-Edwards highlighted the importance of retaining the public safety budget, citing data Vasquez provided about rising car thefts as especially convincing.
She acknowledged that her constituents, particularly one-car families in Southeast Portland, feel the effects of vehicle theft acutely.
“This was a high priority for me,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the budget negotiations unfolded amid dire fiscal forecasts, with county leaders warning of significant revenue shortfalls stemming from the Metro’s supportive housing services tax, which finances much of Multnomah County’s Homeless Services Department.
The county was also facing a $15.5 million shortfall in its general fund, which is primarily funded by real estate taxes, but declining property values downtown had adversely affected tax revenues.
During discussions, budgetary focus largely remained on the general fund due to the County Commissioners’ discretionary powers over it.
Despite the financial challenges, the Preschool for All Fund continued to thrive, receiving more tax receipts and maintaining a robust budget of almost $500 million.
The budget process began with Vega Pederson’s proposed budget released in April, which included plans to eliminate 102 positions across the county, as well as cuts to homeless services and health programs, including those targeting first-time mothers.
Vasquez’s office was initially facing a 5% cut, a move that he contested during the protracted negotiation period.
As commissioners evaluated the budget, many crucial programs in public safety surprised attendees by surviving the proposed cuts.
Brim-Edwards and Jones-Dixon proposed amendments to allocate $500,000 specifically for the retail task force and to combat the rising rates of car thefts accelerated by the pandemic.
Amid the intense budget discussions, several critical programs were reinstated, reflecting the community’s outcry against proposed cuts.
One such reinstatement was for school-based mental health consultants, with the board unanimously voting to restore $834,000 for five full-time positions after significant public feedback.
Additionally, job-training programs for homeless individuals that had been defunded were also restored, with an amendment co-sponsored by Commissioners Shannon Singleton and Brim-Edwards passing unanimously for $2.9 million.
Commissioner Meghan Moyer also sponsored an amendment that secured an additional $500,000 for the Homeless Mobile Intake Team, enhancing outreach to individuals with severe mental illnesses.
However, the Human Services Department, managing the mobile program, faced a reduction of $3.75 million, posing potential ramifications for various divisions, including Youth and Family Services and Aging, Disability, and Veterans Services.
“There are no ‘good cuts’ in a county budget,” Singleton stated, underscoring that such decisions ultimately reflect policy choices.
Moyer expressed her hope for better revenue forecasts in the future, but she remained proud of the efforts made to advocate for essential jobs and services during the budgeting process.
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