Benton County, Oregon

Benton County Board of Commissioners' Office

We're Moving

The Benton County Board of Commissioners Office will move to a new office location at the site of the old Benton County Assessment Department, 205 NW Fifth St., in Corvallis May 18 through 22. We will continue to make customer service our top priority as the move occurs.

About Us

The Board of Commissioners oversee all functions of county government services and set the budgets for the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office. They act as executives, overseeing county operations; legislators, setting county ordinances; and also fill a quasi-judicial role in land use matters.

Benton County is one of nine Oregon counties with a home-rule charter. This provides greater control to our citizens. The voters decide what form they want their government to take. For example, the voters decide which county government positions are elected, such as the sheriff and commissioners.

According to the charter, Benton County must have three full-time elected commissioners to manage the legislative, executive and quasi-judicial responsibilities. Each commissioner is elected at-large to a four-year term. No individual commissioner has any more, or less, power than the others to act. Board action requires at least two of the commissioners to be in agreement.

Your 2012 Board of Commissioners

Jay Dixon, Chair*

Jay Dixon, an effective community leader with experience in government, industry, education and civic organizations, was first elected Benton County Commissioner in November 2000. Prior to becoming a commissioner, he was an elected member of the Corvallis School Board and owned a local hardware store with his family. Before that, he was a senior bank officer at several financial institutions in the San Francisco area. He began his professional career as a lieutenant with the Seattle Police Department, moving on to become a public safety policy advisor and private security manager.

Annabelle Jaramillo, Vice-Chair*

Annabelle Jaramillo was re-elected to a third four-year term as County Commissioner on November 4, 2008. Previously, Jaramillo served as Governor John Kitzhaber's Citizens' Representative from 1995 - 2000. Her office responded to citizen concerns and she was part of the Governor's senior staff. She has also served as Executive Director of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, worked as a research botanist for the Forest Service, director of Computer Education for Harakai Systems, Inc., and development officer for the Center Against Rape & Domestic Violence.

Linda Modrell

Linda Modrell, first elected to serve as Benton County Commissioner in 1999, was re-elected in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Before running for elective office Modrell worked several years in the health policy field, including on the team that developed Oregon's Health Plan. Her health-related work included Family Health Insurance Assistance Program to help low-income working Oregonians gain access to health care; Oregon Health Plan's prioritization of health services; and research and planning for an employer health insurance mandate.

Meetings of the Board of Commissioners

Board of Commissioners meetings are open to the public. They are held once a week, on Tuesdays. Meetings are held in the Plaza Meeting Room of the Benton Plaza located on the corner of Fourth and Monroe in downtown Corvallis, unless otherwise noted.

Board of Commissioners meetings are open to the public and held once a week, on Tuesdays.