Deschutes County commissioners adopt $727.8 million budget, including courthouse expansion, new deflection program

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Monday marked the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025 in Deschutes County, and the Board of County Commissioners has adopted a budget that is balanced and includes funding for core county programs and services, as well as key investments to support a variety of priority projects and initiatives.

The total adopted budget for FY25, including service districts is $727.8 million. This represents a 0.6% increase over last year’s adopted budget, according to a news release Monday.

“While the County remains in a stable financial position, like many local governments, we continue to feel the acute pressures of high inflation, which remains the primary driver of cost increases,” said Nick Lelack, Deschutes County Administrator. “However, I am confident that we are poised to take on the challenges ahead. We will work together to make the tough decisions needed to balance future budgets and continue to deliver effective and impactful services to our community.”

The FY 2025 budget includes funding for core county programs and services, as well as a variety of priority projects and initiatives, including:

• Expanding the Circuit Courthouse in downtown Bend to improve security and provide additional courtroom space for the two new judges approved by the legislature in 2021.

• Planning for the closure of Knott Landfill, upgrading transfer stations and siting and constructing a new solid waste management facility. The addition of three new staff to support expanded hazardous waste collection services in both Bend and Redmond.

• Maintaining 24/7 services at the Deschutes County Stabilization Center.

• Using $750,000 in State funds to create and implement a new deflection program intended to provide options for people suspected of drug possession to enter treatment programs, in response to the programming approved by House Bill 4002.

• Delivering a $9.7 million Road Capital Improvement Plan.

Adoption of the FY25 budget at the BOCC meeting on Monday, June 24, followed earlier approval by the County’s budget committee in May. The budget committee, which is made up of the three elected county commissioners and three appointed residents, reviewed the proposed budget and conducted public meetings and hearings before approving the budget.