Deschutes County has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which limits expenditure growth and maintains the County’s fiscal structural balance and long-term financial stability.
The proposed FY 2026 budget reflects the County’s commitment to maintaining the essential services and public safety while confronting economic challenges that include a widening gap between the County’s General Fund expenditures and incoming revenues, rising personnel costs, inflationary pressures, and changes to federal-level funding.
“This year, we initiated a thoughtful, transparent and collaborative process to prepare a budget that realigns our expenditures and builds a foundation for our long-term financial stability,” said County Administrator Nick Lelack. “I am proud of the work done by departments across the organization who made difficult decisions and found ways to limit their spending while ensuring that vital County services remain intact.”
The proposed total budget for Fiscal Year 2026—which begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2026—is $ 766.4 million. This represents a modest 0.74% increase from the current fiscal year’s revised budget. The limited growth strategy allowed the County to identify $2.5 million in savings within the General Fund.
The budget for the fiscal year ahead incorporates investments in a variety of services that support the community, including:
- Identifying a location for a future county landfill or solid waste solution
- Seeking funding to build a mental healthcare facility specifically for youth in Central Oregon
- Emboldening more communities to reduce their wildfire risk
- Further developing the Deflection Program to prioritize initiatives that promote drug education, addiction treatment, and recovery
- Continuing to support and find solutions for people experiencing homelessness
- Establishing a citizen committee to create representative districts for five county commissioners and introducing a ballot initiative for voters to decide
- Completing the master plan and market analysis for the Deschutes County Fair & Expo
The County Budget Committee, which includes the three County Commissioners and three appointed citizen members, will hold hearings to review the proposed budget from Monday, May 12, through Wednesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Deschutes Services Building, located a 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. The public is encouraged to attend the hearings in person or virtually. A hearing schedule and virtual log on information can be found at www.deschutes.org/meetings.