County Administrator outlines eight-month budget process, thanks staff

County Administrator provided a budget update during a Clackamas County meeting, saying the county’s budget work begins each November and runs about eight months ahead of a June adoption. "That's me. I like to share great news of our county employees," the County Administrator said, praising staff contributions.

The administrator emphasized that the budget process is lengthy and collaborative: "As you know, commissioners, the county budget process is not just today. It was eight months prior to today. Eight months. We start actively in November prior to the June adoption." The official said there are "just under 100 county employees total" who help prepare and develop budgets across departments, with smaller departments often handled by a director or one support staff, and larger departments using up to 10–20 staff members.

A commissioner interjected during the remarks, urging efficiency: "We got to keep it under." The administrator continued, describing the daily challenge of trimming budgets to match the financial guidance from commissioners and thanking the county budget team by name.

"The budget team at the county — Sandra Montoya, Elizabeth Comfort, Cindy Becker — have been phenomenal shephering this process," the County Administrator said. The official also thanked commissioners for their guidance and said staff would take a few weeks off before resuming work on the next fiscal year.

The update contained no formal motions or votes; it served as an informational briefing on process, staffing and timing. Next procedural steps were described as resuming budget work after a short break and continuing the multi-month preparation cycle toward the June adoption.