Deschutes County Releases Proposed Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

Deschutes County has released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018.

The County’s Budget Committee, which includes County Commissioners Tammy Baney, Tony DeBone and Phil Henderson and three appointed members, Bruce Barrett, Jimm Burton and Mike Maier, will review the proposed budget during budget hearings, which will begin on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 a.m. and conclude on Friday, June 9. The public is welcome to attend, although testimony will not be allowed.

A public hearing and final budget deliberations are scheduled for Monday, June 26, at 10 a.m.  Budget meetings, the public hearing, and final deliberations will be held at the Deschutes Services Center building, which is located at 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend.  

Highlights from the County’s proposed budget include:

• Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office/Health Services: The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Deschutes County Health Services, other law enforcement agencies and external partners, is proposing the creation of a Crisis Stabilization and Sober Center in Bend to better address the needs of citizens in crisis who have been referred to law enforcement. The operating cost of the proposed program is $1,006,717 and would be shared by County departments and participating agencies.
   
• Capital Projects: Several significant capital projects are included in the Fiscal Year 2018 proposed budget:
  • The Deschutes County Road Department is proposing to spend $650,000 to begin work on improvements to the Old Bend-Redmond Highway corridor to improve traffic flow and to provide an alternative route between Bend and Redmond. These improvements would take place over the next two years. 
  • The Road Department is also proposing completion of the Huntington Road/Deer Run Road paving project near the City of La Pine and improvements to the Burgess/Day Road intersection.
  • The 9-1-1 Service District is proposing completion of a new Public Safety Communications and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) project.
     
• Community Development Department: Central Oregon’s strong housing and construction markets are leading to increased permitting in our Community Development Department. As the department continues to process complex and controversial land use applications, decisions and code enforcement cases, it is seeking to maintain high customer service levels with current staffing levels.
   
• Solid Waste / Fair & Expo: Both the Department of Solid Waste and Deschutes County Fair & Expo are continuing strategic planning processes to prepare for potential future expansion and development.

The County’s total proposed budget, excluding County Service Districts, is $358,509,076, which marks an increase of 4.2% over the current year.

To view the County’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget, visit: http://ow.ly/OZ5230ckGYA

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