Governor Brown released her recommended budget today for the 2017-2019 biennium focused on “education, health care, and job creation.”  The budget includes new investments in certain areas and also cuts in other areas due to a projected $1.4 billion shortfall in the general fund.

Public Safety/Emergency Management Highlights Include:

  • $32 million in grant funding to counties for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative.  This is a reduced amount from the 2015-2017 biennium of $40 million.  Governor Brown states that “resources will now be a targeted resource available to the Commission to invest in counties that utilize funding in a way that effectively reduces recidivism, prison usage, and saves prison costs.”
  • $2.5 million for shelter care for survivors of domestic violence (new investment)
  • $200 million toward seismic preparedness for schools and emergency services buildings (new investment)
  • $32 million in bonding for water grants for resilient water infrastructure (new investment)
  • $15 million in bonding funds for security improvements at college/university campus facilities (new investment)
  • $250,000 for grants to five local community hazard mitigation plans, with a focus on seismic risk and tsunami inundation areas (new investment)
  • Maintaining Oregon State Police patrol troopers, investigator resources in the Major Crimes Unit, and $1.6 million for additional staff to address the backlog of unprocessed sexual assault forensic evidence kits
  • $14 million in additional funds to the Department of Corrections, primarily attributable to open Oregon Penitentiary-Minimum as a second facility for women, but the Governor will be working to identify alternatives during the legislative session.  The additional funding would also operate a behavioral health unit at the Oregon State Pentitentiary.
  • $269 million in total funds for the Department of Corrections, Community Corrections division
  • Funding the Young Women’s Transition Services  and other rehabilitation programs through the Oregon Youth Authority
  • Governor Brown will introduce legislation to reduce simple drug possession crimes from Class C felonies to Class A misdemeanors

General State Agency Budget Numbers:

  • Department of Corrections: $1,771 million total funds (7 percent increase from the 2015-2017 legislatively approved budget)
  • Criminal Justice Commission: $56 million total funds (11 percent decrease from 2015-2017)
  • District Attorneys and their Deputies: $12.5 million general fund (5 percent increase from 2015-2017)
  • Department of Justice: $611.9 million total funds (11 percent increase from 2015-2017)
  • Oregon Military Department: $424.4 million total funds (2 percent decrease from 2015-2017) including $261.5 million total funds for Office of Emergency Management
  • Oregon Youth Authority: $416 million total funds (4 percent increase from 2015-2017)
  • Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision: $9.1 million total funds (13 percent increase from 2015-2017)
  • Department of State Police: $414.8 million total funds (1 percent increase from 2015-2017)
  • Department of Public Safety Standards and Training $61.1 million total funds (5 percent increase from 2015-2017)

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Contributed by: Patrick Sieng | AOC Public Safety Policy Manager