Benton County releases proposed budgets ahead of hearing before Budget Committee
Benton County has released proposed 2025-27 biennial budgets in preparation for three days of budget hearings starting on May 27. The hearings will be held in the Holmes & Shipley Public Meeting Rooms of the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.
All meetings of the Budget Committee are open to the public. Public comment on any aspect of the proposed budget will be heard at the designated hearing times listed below. Virtual attendance options are available; Zoom access information is available on the County’s website. Zoom video recordings are available on the County YouTube channel.
The County’s Budget Committee is meeting to review, deliberate and approve three proposed 2025-27 biennium budgets:
Library Services budget proposal
Public hearing: Tuesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m.
911 Emergency Services CSD budget proposal
Public hearing: Tuesday, May 27, approx. 9:30 a.m.
County Budget proposal
Public hearing:
Tuesday, May 27, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 29, 6 p.m.
Friday, May 30, approx. 11 a.m.
The Notice of Budget Committee Meetings (Spanish translation available) includes a detailed schedule for the three meeting days. Members of the public are welcome to attend presentations of the County budget summary and individual budgets for the County’s 15 departments. Public comment will be allowed during the specified public hearing times.
Benton County budget process
The creation of the County’s budget begins months before it takes effect on July 1.
STEP 1: Every two years, analysts in the Financial Services Department work with department directors to create proposed budgets for the upcoming biennium. These budgets account for current service levels, inflation and future goals.
STEP 2: The chief financial officer, county administrator and senior budget strategist vet and approve the proposed department budgets. They compile a proposed County budget that balances proposed expenses with projected revenues.
STEP 3: The proposed budget is presented to the Budget Committee, which is composed of the three elected Commissioners and three appointed community members. The Committee considers the proposed budget, deliberates, makes amendments (if necessary) and approves the budget.
STEP 4: County staff prepare the approved budget. In accordance with Oregon budget law, details are posted in the newspaper at least five days prior to the Board of Commissioners considering it for adoption.
STEP 5: The Board of Commissioners conducts a final public hearing (for the 2025-27 budget, this is scheduled for June 17) and adopts the budget. The Board of Commissioners may make changes to the approved budget before adopting, but if they exceed a certain percentage of change per fund, another public notice and hearing are required.
STEP 6: The adopted budget takes effect on July 1.
STEP 7: By July 15, County staff give notice of tax being imposed, as identified in the adopted budget, to the County Assessor.
STEP 8: By September 30, County staff submit the completed adopted budget document to the County Clerk. The document is also uploaded to the County’s website.
More information
- View the adopted 2023-25 biennium budgets
- Learn about the Benton County Budget Committee
- View department budget presentations (to be posted Friday, May 23)
- Find detailed hearing agendas in English and Spanish
