State Budget Forecast: Revenue Down Almost 1 Billion

Oregon State lawmakers have just learned that they will have almost 1 billion fewer dollars to spend on schools, human services and public safety. From the Oregonian:

"State economists reported that revenue for the current two-year budget is down by $140 million, prompting Gov. Ted Kulongoski to order state agency heads immediately to slash the remainder of their budgets across the board by 5 percent.

The news for the upcoming two years is much worse. Revenues are projected to be down by $718 million, compared with the forecast from three months ago. "

Multnomah County's budget analysts are already hard at work determining how this state revenue shortfall will impact the County. To give you some perspective, about 75% of the County's Department of Human Services Budget (Mental Health Services, Aging and Disability Services to name a few) comes from state and federal resources. State funds also flow to our jails and parole and probation services.

As always, we'll keep you up-to-date as information develops. The next big news is expected in December when Governor Kulongoski releases his 2009-2011 budget.

Drop us a line with your ideas for increasing revenue or cutting services.

Discuss: State Budget Forecast: Revenue Down Almost 1 Billion

» November 19, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Children and Families, Front Page News, Human Services, Libraries, Marissa's Blog, Public Safety

Big Breakthrough on County Veterans Service Officer Funding

County Veterans Service Officers are at work everyday in each Oregon County, assisting veterans with claims for benefits from the Federal Veterans Administration (VA). These claims tend to be complex, and often times veterans face arbitrary delays and unjust denials. Multnomah County's team of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs)--like other CVSOs around the state--advocate for veterans' benefit claims, taking on the VA bureaucracy for clients who cannot do so effectively themselves, fighting for every dollar their clients deserve.

Read more and discuss: Big Breakthrough on County Veterans Service Officer Funding

» October 10, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Issues, News, Warren's Blog

Letter from Chair Wheeler to county employees

As we watch the economic upheaval at the national level I know that you are concerned, as I am, about the impact on Multnomah County. While our national economic situation is more precarious than any time in recent memory, Multnomah County has faced a fundamental
imbalance of declining revenues and rising costs, such as inflation, for many years now.

Since I took office, fiscal stability has remained a high priority. Unfortunately, this has meant a number of staff and service reductions. As the national economic picture worsens, I expect that
even more cuts will become inevitable in the next budget cycle. These decisions are not easy, but we are committed to the belief that facing up to our challenges and taking clear, thoughtful
action will help us weather the economic storm. As we await further developments on the national scene, I wanted to share with you some analysis.

Read more and discuss: Letter from Chair Wheeler to county employees

» September 30, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Karol's Blog, Top Stories

Chair Wheeler's statement on Cascadia

State and County Partner to Avert Mental Health Crisis
Statement of Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler
May 1, 2008

For the last two weeks, Multnomah County staff has been working closely with the State of Oregon and Cascadia Behavioral Health to avoid a crisis in the provision of mental health services to our community. This morning, in Executive Session, the Board of County Commissioners heard a briefing on the crisis at Cascadia Behavioral Health. Last night, Cascadia’s bank told us that they had collected an outstanding loan by seizing the funds in Cascadia’s bank account which would have covered the paychecks that are due today to Cascadia’s employees.

Read more and discuss: Chair Wheeler's statement on Cascadia

» May 1, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Human Services, Karol's Blog, News

Chair Wheeler releases his budget today

Today Chair Wheeler released his budget. The work begins now to reach some consensus on how best fund the important work of helping our most vulnerable populations. Please read this letter the Chair sent to Multnomah County employees:

Dear Multnomah County Employees,

This morning I am addressing the Board of County Commissioners and releasing my Executive Budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008.

In Oregon we are already experiencing impacts of the downturn in the national economy. In Multnomah County government those impacts compound the problems created when we failed to cut the budget to match the decline in revenue from the expiration of the Itax.

My responsibility is to propose a budget that will improve the stability of Multnomah County government, allowing us to continue to provide services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Multnomah County taxpayers have a reasonable expectation that their government will conduct its financial affairs with the same prudence that a responsible household would exercise. Part of my job is demonstrating to the public that we understand that expectation.

Rest of the letter after the jump.

Read more and discuss: Chair Wheeler releases his budget today

» April 17, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Karol's Blog, Top Stories

Update on BIT/BLF Business Tax Reform...Next Installment of Reform Rolls-Out This Summer

In 2007, the City of Portland and Multnomah County approved extensive reforms to the city business license fee (BLF) and the county business income tax (BIT). The reform effort sought to ease the tax burden on small businesses and to improve the economic competitiveness of our city and county. With about a month until tax day, we have a quick update on the changes and what's next (click for more).

Read more and discuss: Update on BIT/BLF Business Tax Reform...Next Installment of Reform Rolls-Out This Summer

» March 14, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Issues, Warren's Blog

Town halls to focus on funding for bridge repairs

From Public Affairs: Multnomah County has scheduled a series of town hall meetings to present information on the condition of its Willamette River bridges and a proposal to fund their repair.

Read more and discuss: Town halls to focus on funding for bridge repairs

» January 25, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Community Involvement, Events, Karol's Blog, Sidebar Alerts

Jeff in the news

Jeff fought for millions of dollars for Multnomah County's capital needs yesterday at the Portland Development Commission's Urban Renewal Advisory Group. The accompanying article in the Oregonian online briefly tells the tale.

Discuss: Jeff in the news

» January 16, 2008 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, News

Business Tax Reform Package Signed Into Law

Today the County Board of Commisssioners finalized a set of reforms to Multnomah County's Business Income Tax (BIT) system. This reform package marks the first substantive update to our BIT system since 1994. It will result in tax relief for approximately 20,000 businesses, and it will make our local tax structure both more equitable and more stable.

Read more and discuss: Business Tax Reform Package Signed Into Law

» December 20, 2007 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Issues, News, Warren's Blog

Jeff talks to the PDC today about the County sharing in urban renewal's bounty

Jeff is in the Portland Tribune today talking about the future of three urban renewal districts downtown and how Multnomah County is proposing a way to get back some of the $16 million dollars per year the PDC currently diverts from the County; money that would be otherwise spent for vital human services.

Read the article, then come back and let us know: is Jeff making a fair offer to the PDC?

Discuss: Jeff talks to the PDC today about the County sharing in urban renewal's bounty

» December 18, 2007 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Human Services, Karol's Blog, Public Safety

Ending the Bias Against Venture Capital Firms: A Step Forward for Local Economic Development

Yesterday Jeff Cogen wrapped up a successful effort to make Multnomah County a viable place for venture capital firms to locate. An oversight in the Business Income Tax (BIT) code had caused all local venture capital funds to move outside of Multnomah County and the City of Portland's taxing jurisdiction. For them to stick around here meant subjecting capital returns on investment that they deliver to their shareholders (limited partners) to the city and county business income taxes.

To subject returns on capital to those taxes would have made local venture funds both uncompetitive and likely targets of shareholder lawsuits, so they moved (at least any with taxable income to report). The solution Commissioner Cogen developed in close collaboration with Commissioner Sam Adam's office, the Revenue Bureau, and a workgroup comprised of members of the venture capital industry, will level the playing field by giving venture capital firms the same tax treatment mutual funds get.

We have removed an inequity, and done so with zero impact to the city or county budget. We have also done so in a manner that preserves fairness and integrity in the tax system and avoids unintended consequences. There may even be some economic development upside to this change. Commissioner Adam's office and the Portland Development Commission (PDC) plan to track the future impacts of this change using an online benchmarking survey. Since venture capital plays a vital role in today's global economy by nurturing emerging businesses and helping their innovative ideas and technologies achieve market success, Commissioners Cogen and Adams felt it was very important to address this problem. Unanimous votes in favor of the change at both the county and city indicated the broad support this solution had. Click below to see three recent media pieces on this.

Read more and discuss: Ending the Bias Against Venture Capital Firms: A Step Forward for Local Economic Development

» November 30, 2007 - 0 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Issues, News, Warren's Blog

Venture capital tax change take effect following meeting

Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved new administrative rule that addresses the tax treatment of venture capital funds.

After listening carefully to complaints from local venture capital firms during hearings on reform to the Business License Fee in April of 2007, the Revenue Bureau, City Commissioner Sam Adams’ Office and County Commissioner Jeff Cogen’s Office put together a workgroup that included representatives from the venture capital industry, tax professionals and city and county representatives. This workgroup was tasked to review the tax treatment of venture capital funds. If venture capital funds were found to be disadvantaged in Portland and Multnomah County, the group was to jointly design a solution that would overcome this disadvantage without creating unintended consequences for the Revenue Bureau or other businesses.

Read more and discuss: Venture capital tax change take effect following meeting

» November 29, 2007 - 0 comments - Budget, Top Stories, Warren's Blog

Convention Center Hotel

Today's Oregonian included a front page story on Metro's upcoming vote on a Convention Center hotel. It reports on a funding gap and the need for an annual public subsidy, at least for the first 8 years.

While this is not directly a Multnomah County matter, it could affect local property taxes, a portion of which fund Multnomah County. There are several ideas for covering the funding gap including creating a new business improvement district, raising the hotel/motel tax, and getting funding from the Oregon Lottery. What do you think of a Convention Center hotel?

Discuss: Convention Center Hotel

» September 20, 2007 - 1 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Inner NE, Issues, News, Warren's Blog

What does Multnomah County need from the state?

In the coming months, Jeff is going to meet with state representatives and senators to help paint a clearer picture of what Multnomah County's needs are and how we can make sure we are getting our fair share to help our most vulnerable populations.

Are there issues in our county that the state should step up to the plate and help with? Tell us what you think and what you would say to some of our delegation.

Discuss: What does Multnomah County need from the state?

» August 20, 2007 - 4 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Karol's Blog, News, Top Stories

Governor Vetoes OMSI Bailout

Good news PGE ratepayers! Governor Kulongoski vetoed the Legislature's attempt to pay off a 1991 OMSI construction debt with PGE ratepayer dollars. Jeff Cogen was part of a broad (and now successful!) effort to convince the Governor to nix this bad idea. Chair Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Lonnie Roberts also weighed in from Multnomah County to encourage a veto. Here are links to KGW's and the Oregonian's story on the news. Straigtening OMSI's books out doesn't seem as important as funding energy conservation and renewable energy, but what do you think? Also, is it appropriate to think of OMSI as a resource only within PGE's service territory, or should any potential bailout be broader based?

Read more and discuss: Governor Vetoes OMSI Bailout

» August 9, 2007 - 3 comments - Budget, Front Page News, Warren's Blog

Bridge Collapses: San Francisco, Minneapolis, Portland?

Yesterday during rush hour, the Interstate bridge - 35w - in Minneapolis came crumbling down in what has been described as harrowing. In San Francisco this year, the 580 freeway overpass fell onto the 880 freeway. This leaves us to wonder, are Portland's bridges safe?

Read more and discuss: Bridge Collapses: San Francisco, Minneapolis, Portland?

» August 2, 2007 - 72 comments - Budget, Community Involvement, Front Page News, News

Cogen to lead to county’s effort to reform business income tax

Portland, OR – The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal by Commissioner Jeff Cogen (District 2) to convene a Business Income Tax Reform Workgroup. The workgroup, chaired by Commissioner Cogen, will be made up of county representatives, business people and other community stakeholders. Over the next six weeks, the focus of the group will be on the tax reforms adopted by the City of Portland and assess whether the county’s Business Income Tax (BIT) should be aligned with the City’s new policies.

Read more and discuss: Cogen to lead to county’s effort to reform business income tax

» March 1, 2007 - 1 comments - Budget, Front Page News