Washington County replaced its 2012-era financial rules on July 21, when the Board of Commissioners approved three new policies governing how the county tracks revenue, manages spending, and reports its books.
The changes stem from a 2023 independent review by the County Auditor that found the county's financial policies lagged behind best practices recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association.
Chief Financial Officer John Styer and Deputy CFO Sarah Keane presented the policies at the board's July 7 work session and brought them for formal adoption on the consent agenda July 21.
Policy 401 (Accounting and Financial Reporting) replaces the older Policy 406. Policies 402 (Expenditures) and 403 (Revenues) together replace the county's 2012 fiscal policy.
Under the new revenues policy, the county's stated goal is full-cost recovery for fee-supported services, with fees reviewed regularly to reflect actual costs. Any fee change requires board approval.
For residents in Bethany, Cedar Mill, Oak Hills, and West Haven-Sylvan who pay county fees for building permits and land-use applications, that cost-recovery language matters.
It formalizes the framework the county uses to set the charges homeowners and developers encounter.
Fee schedule hearing
The board also held a public hearing on the FY 2026-27 fee schedule. The board initially adopted the fee schedule on June 16 in a 5-0 vote presented by Styer.
The county has not yet published minutes clarifying what additional action was taken at the July 21 hearing.
Homeless services agreement amended
The consent agenda included an amendment adding funds to the intergovernmental agreement for homeless services between Washington County and Multnomah County.
The dollar amount was not detailed in published agenda documents.
The partnership is part of the Metro-funded Supportive Housing Services program.
"Supportive Housing Services funding has allowed us to expand our system in ways that were simply not possible before," Chair Kathryn Harrington said in a June 3 county press release marking a milestone of 3,000 households exiting homelessness since 2021.
As of January 2026, more than 1,700 households remained on the county's housing referral waitlist.
Also on the agenda
- An amendment to the FY 2026-27 pay plan and position and salary report, the third adjustment since the budget was adopted June 16.
- Appointments to the Aging and Veteran Services Advisory Council, with applicants presented by Health and Human Services Director Mjere Simantel at the July 7 work session.
- A first public hearing on Ordinance No. 916, which would amend the county's personnel code. That item was added to the agenda July 16.
Agenda item documents for the finance policies carry an "approved" status in the county's system. Official minutes with vote tallies have not been published.
How to weigh in
The county's CPO program, the traditional channel for community input in unincorporated areas, is paused for summer 2026 while the county transitions to a new geographic structure the board approved January 27.
The county has said the revamped program will launch in fall 2026.
Residents can submit written testimony to [email protected] or sign up to speak at future board meetings at forms.co.washington.or.us/form/public-testimony-sign-up.
