![]() ![]() “We’re still chronically underfunded.”īut state legislators tasked with crafting those budgets said they provided what was required by the state’s budget formula, and provided extra money to Multnomah County on top of it. “They fundamentally made a decision that said we are not going to fund this gap between what the cost study says the services cost and what we are funding,” said Black. The financial challenges follow a slew of other problems confronting Multnomah County’s jails in recent months, including a spate of inmate deaths, staffing shortages that have halted bookings for hours at a time and the flow of deadly fentanyl behind bars.Ĭommissioner Sharon Meieran last week said it was clear Multnomah County was at a “breaking point.” If the state doesn’t change its funding approach for community corrections – the term to describe the practice of jailing and supervising felons locally – officials said Multnomah County jails will continue facing significant budget shortfalls that could crowd facilities and further constrain staffing. ![]() ![]() Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell warned last week that the county may be forced to eliminate 219 jail beds, cut 43 full-time employees and start releasing inmates if the board of commissioners doesn’t cover a gap in state funding that’s affecting counties across Oregon.And the threat won’t go away, even if the board votes as expected on Thursday to approve her $6.3 million request, the sheriff said. ![]()
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