Substantial budget cuts are in sight for the Department of Corrections Budget (Senate Bill 5504) including community corrections and funding for county corrections programs.
SB 5504 passed out of the joint ways and means subcommittee on public safety on a 5-3 vote on June 12. The cuts in the budget will result in reduced services and position cuts, and jeopardizes overall public safety.
Cuts to critical programs include:
- A $4.6 million reduction in the community corrections baseline budget to $268.4 million, further exacerbating the current $50 million gap to fully fund community corrections. The overall need to make the community corrections system whole is $319 million.
- A $2 million reduction in jail reimbursements to sheriffs for 90-day Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) offenders.
- A $4.5 million reduction in criminal fine account allocation to county juvenile and adult corrections programs/facilities/drug & alcohol programs.
Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) members and staff are working against the clock to ensure members of the Joint Ways & Means Committee understand the need for the budget to maintain current service level and make up for the gaps in the budget. The budget is scheduled for a vote by the full ways and means committee on June 14.
For questions, please contact AOC Legislative Affairs Manager, Patrick Sieng.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate