The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets Wednesday to consider adding funds to the county budget, and cutting an affordable housing development project to fund down payment assistance.
Commissioners will consider approving proclamations declaring March as Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Marion County.
The board will consider redirecting funds in the county’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Action Plan to dedicate around $466,000 to down payment assistance and $815,000 to helping homeowners rehabilitate their homes. The move would mean eliminating the following projects: $466,000 for affordable housing development, $415,000 for community infrastructure improvements, $250,000 for the Boys and Girls Club Northeast Lancaster Clubhouse, $50,000 for the AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn and $100,000 for Family Building Blocks.
Commissioners will also consider adding around $1.9 million to the county’s budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, to be decided after a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. That would bring the new total to around $649.8 million.
They will consider adding around $47,000 to a contract with the Oregon Health Authority for services for women, infants and children, and removing around $113,000 intended for home visiting. Home visitors help pregnant women and families with young children have positive relationships and get connected with services, according to the state’s website.
Meeting details: The commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Senator Hearing Room at 555 Court Street N.E. Anyone can sign up to give public comment in-person at the meeting. The meeting is streamed live on YouTube.
-Ardeshir Tabrizian
