5.19.26 Board Briefing & Budget Work Session #14

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners held a board briefing and budget work session on May 19, 2026, focusing primarily on the Justice Fellowship program and the county's fiscal year 2027 budget amendments. The Justice Fellowship program, funded by the MacArthur Foundation's Safety and Justice Challenge through fiscal year 2027, supports individuals with lived experience in the criminal legal system by providing leadership development, paid community expert roles, and engagement in policy and system reform projects. The board discussed the program's successes, including low attrition, community impact, and the integration of fellows into county advisory roles. Budget discussions covered multiple departmental amendments, including staffing changes, revenue adjustments, and program funding reallocations across departments such as Community Justice, Community Services, Health, Homeless Services, and the Library. Notable procurement-related items included the formalization of paid roles for justice fellows, adjustments to grant-funded positions, and the creation of a recovery housing rental voucher program funded through reallocation within the homeless services budget. The board also addressed structural and operational concerns regarding non-departmental offices and internal service budgeting, including the introduction of a dedicated ledger account for security expenses to improve budget transparency. The session concluded with the board preparing for the adoption of the budget on June 4, 2026, and consideration of further amendments.