For fifth year in a row, Washington County faces service cuts to balance budget

Published 2:30 am Saturday, March 22, 2025

Washington County, the second most populous county in the state of Oregon, is anticipating a $20.5 million gap for the upcoming 2025-26 fiscal year.

With new sources of revenue being studied, it’s expected that, for the fifth year in a row, cuts in services will be needed to balance the budget. Where exactly these cuts will be made is yet to be determined.

According to the county, the projected gap is anticipated in the county’s general fund, the part of the budget that policymakers have the most flexibility over.

“Under Oregon budget law, the county must close the anticipated gap to balance the proposed budget for the new fiscal year that starts July 1,” the county said in a news release. “Once difficult decisions have been made to cut general fund-supported services, officials plan to share a balanced, proposed budget with the Washington County Budget Committee on April 28.

Cost of services

outpacing revenue

A county budget meeting was held March 18 to look at projected revenues and expenditures, but no decision was made on how to make cuts or increase revenue.

Limited property taxes are one problem contributing to the budget shortfall, according to County Administrator Tanya Ange.

“Our ability to balance the general fund continues to be constrained by limited property taxes and other discretionary revenues which no longer cover the cost of the community’s growing need for our services,” Ange said. “This ongoing challenge means the cost of services is outpacing our ability to fund them through the general fund.”

A history of shortfalls

Nearly two years ago, Washington County commissioners closed a nearly identical $25.3 million budget gap by eliminating vacant positions and averting layoffs or furloughs.

The county was able to sidestep drastic personnel cuts in the budget in 2022, but with COVID-19 relief funds drying up and higher staffing costs, the commission decided to remove unfilled positions from the budget.

Fast forwarding to 2025, for general fund-supported services, county departments and offices were instructed earlier this year to provide reduction scenarios at the 10%, 13% and 17% levels. County leaders will choose from some combination of these reduction scenarios to build the proposed budget, to be released April 28.

“We have sought to preserve services as much as possible that the community relies on,” Ange said. “Although we are continuing this approach again for a fifth year in a row, there is now no other place to turn than to consider eliminating some services altogether.”

During the tedious budget process, Washington County is looking into other sources of revenue.

“Temporary increases in property taxes, called local option levies, are anticipated for property tax measures supporting library and public safety services that expire in 2026,” the city said in a release. “Increased fees for other services are also being considered for future years.”

This year’s proposed budget summary will be available on the county’s website on April 28.

There will be a series of budget committee hearings. For more information on times and dates, visit washingtoncountyor.gov.

“Our ability to balance the general fund continues to be constrained by limited property taxes and other discretionary revenues which no longer cover the cost of the community’s growing need for our services.”

Tanya Ange, county administrator