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AGENDA: Marion County to consider revised budget paying for construction, health jobs

Marion County will consider shuffling its budget slightly at its weekly meeting Wednesday, including adding an extra $1 million it received from Comcast.

An agenda posted ahead of the Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting shows the county plans to revise its budget, adding and moving $3.9 million total dollars, mostly to pay for construction projects and add staff.

Oregon law requires that when a governing body makes a significant change to its current budget, such as accounting for more or less money, it must file a “supplemental budget” and hold a public hearing. Spokeswoman Jolene Kelley said Marion County has two or three supplemental budgets every year.

According to the agenda, Marion County gained about $1.5 million in new money from from two sources: nearly $1 million from a recent settlement ordering Comcast to pay $155 million in property taxes to local governments, and $450,000 from state related to timber harvests within the county.

Construction projects and new hires garner most of the new funding, according to the agenda . The county’s health and human services department looks to add the equivalent of 11-and-a-half full-time jobs, including drug treatment case managers and mental health specialists. Kelley said the new positions “meet a growing demand for services.”

Commissioners will also consider approving the county’s 2019 Federal Agenda, a guiding document for CFM Strategic Solutions to lobby the federal government. They will also consider paying Cedar Mill Construction $102,130 to remodel the lobby of Marion County Jail.

Meeting details: Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m., Senator Hearing Room, 555 Court Street N.E. Salem.

Commission members: Sam Brentano, Kevin Cameron, Colm Willis.

Have a tip? Contact reporter Troy Brynelson at 503-575-9930, [email protected] or @TroyWB.

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