Benton County Budget

The Budget Process

The county budget process is generally defined by Oregon Local Budget Law ORS Chapter 294 and county financial policies. The Budget Officer oversees preparation of a proposed budget based on financial and policy parameters established by the Board of Commissioners with advice of the Budget Committee. You may see below for information on this year's proposed Budget.

A Budget Committee consisting of three appointed citizens and the Board of Commissioners is presented a proposed budget for review and approval. A summary of the approved budget is published. Then the Board of Commissioners conducts a final public hearing and adopts the budget. All meetings discussing the budget are open to the public.

The budget process of each service district is similar. The county budget and one service district is prepared on a biennial basis. Five service district budgets are prepared on an annual basis.

The biennial budget period extends from July 1, two years, to June 30. The annual budget period extends from July 1 to the following year June 30.

Budget Hearings

Benton County, Benton County 911 Emergency Communications Services County Service District, and the Benton County Library County Service District are biennial budgets. The budget process for the 2023-25, which begins July 1, 2023 and ends June 30, 2025, biennium has begun.  Formal meetings of the respective Budget Committees begin April 18, 2023 and will conclude by the 18th of May. Click Budget Committee on the menu to view scheduled meeting times and agendas.

The budget process for the annual budgets of the Alpine, Alsea, Alsea Human Services, Cascade View and South Third Service Districts, as well as the Benton County Agricultural Extension Service District, is also underway. Budget Committee meetings for Cascade View, South 3rd, Hidden Valley, and Agricultural Extension Service District will be held on the 15th of May, 2023. Budget Committee meetings for Alsea, Alsea Human Services, and Alpine Districts are scheduled for the 17th of May, 2023.  Legal notice of these meetings and agendas were published as required by law and also posted to the County web site in mid-April.

As needed, and required by law, public hearings are advertised and conducted periodically by the Board of Commissioners to modify the current budget.  Notices of these hearings are posted on this website and published or mailed as required by law.

Budget Committee Applications

Benton County is not currently seeking any new applicants for the 2023-25 Biennium Budget Hearings, but if you are interested in serving in the future please view this linked position description and application for more information or see below.