Resources
Oregon counties are very diverse in how they are structured. This County Structures Chart (PDF) shows the many different ways in which Oregon counties are organized.
From time to time counties considered establishing a home rule charter. AOC prepared this Home Rule Paper (PDF) to answer many of the questions involved in establishing a home rule charter.
Over the years Oregon counties and the State of Oregon have developed several shared revenue streams. Many of the revenues shared by the State of Oregon with counties are the result of agreements whereby counties gave up their authority to regulate something in exchange for a share of the revenue. This Shared Revenue Report (PDF) describes these agreements.
About Oregon Counties
There have been counties in Oregon since before statehood. Early county governments were limited in the services they provided, but since there was no state government, those services were vital to the well-being of the residents of the Oregon territory. The primary responsibilities of early county governments involved forest and farm-to-market roads, law enforcement, courts, care for the needy, and tax collections.
In the 21st century, Oregon county governments face far more complex tasks because of the increasing demands of a growing population and diverse society. Today, Oregon counties are involved in a wide range of important public services like public health, mental and behavioral health, community corrections, juvenile services, criminal prosecution, airports, parks, libraries, community development and land-use planning, building codes, land surveying, refuse disposal, assessment and tax collection, elections, emergency management, air pollution control, veterans services, economic and workforce development, county fairs, museums, animal control, senior services, soil and water conservation, and many others.
AOC’s Shared Services Chart (PDF) shows much of the extent of the vital public services Oregon counties provide. Oregon counties team with the State of Oregon and the federal government to provide many of these vital public services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. With challenges facing government at all levels, Oregon counties are on the front line of making sure those vital public services continue and the people who need them receive them.
The three rows on this chart show the services provided exclusively by the State of Oregon, services that are shared by the state and counties, and services provided exclusively by counties. This is not an exhaustive list but is meant to be a representative sample of services provided.
Counties Map
Hover over county names for more information and a link to their respective webpage.
Cost Savings Tools
AOC offers specialized expertise and assistance to its members and their staff on a wide variety of programs and policy areas.
Some programs are managed by in-house AOC staff members and others by contract staff or outside organizations.
Deferred Compensation Program
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC), in partnership with Nationwide Retirement Solutions (NRS), and the National Association of Counties (NACo), provides county employees with a Section 457 Deferred Compensation Program. Since its inception in 1980, the Deferred Compensation Program has grown to become the largest supplemental retirement income program available to county employees. More than 360,000 county employees from more than 3,000 county agencies currently participate in the Program, with accumulated assets of more than $15 billion.
Employee Benefits
- Helps public employees save for their future at no cost to their employer.
- Enables public employees to reduce current taxes.
- Institutes a systematic savings program for public employees.
- Automatic contribution deductions make it easy for employees to save.
- Contributions grow on a tax-deferred basis.
- Employees are 100% vested in their accounts.
Employer Benefits
- Helps employers to recruit and retain high–caliber personnel.
- Usually less expensive to maintain than defined benefit plans.
- Flexibility in program design.
The Live Healthy: NACo Prescription – Health – Dental Discount
The program provides relief to uninsured and underinsured Americans who face high prescription, health, and dental costs.
The program is free to NACo member counties and it has been offering real savings to county residents across the country since 2004. The program, which is administered by CVS Caremark, includes discounts on prescriptions, vision care, LASIK & PRK vision procedures, hearing aids & screenings, prepaid lab work, prepaid diagnostic imaging, diabetic supplies and dental care.
The prescription portion of the program continues to grow, providing average savings of 24 percent on thousands of medications. The savings range from 15 to 75 percent, and the free discount card is accepted at more than 68,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Adding the dental discount program enables residents to save on all health services through one program. This program helps residents of NACo member counties save 15 to 50 percent on dental care and is honored by more than 110,000 participating providers nationwide. The dental discounts help people who are uninsured, but can also complement health insurance plans or work with health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts.
This program is FREE for NACo member counties and inexpensive for residents:
- Prescription Drug Discount Card: free for residents
- Dental Discount Program: $6.95 per month or $69 a year for individuals, $8.95 per month or $79 a year for families.
- Medical Services: $6.95 per month or $69 a year for individuals, $8.95 per month or $79 a year for families.
Public Surplus
Public Surplus is a government surplus auction system designed for the sale and purchase of county’s surplus items. This system was created with unique capabilities specifically for public agencies, making it much more than an auction site. The services offered to both buyers and sellers is of the highest quality with a strong focus on customer care.
AOC member counties and county departments can sign-up for an account here.