Linn County closes out FY 2023-'24 fiscally sound

ALBANY — Linn County closed out the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year on a high note financially, Accounting Officer Bill Palmer and Treasurer Michelle Hawkins told the Linn County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

The duo said that with only minimal possible changes, the books are closed on the last fiscal year of operation and all departments and offices operated well within their budgets.

Hawkins said that due to a strong investment market, Linn County gained almost $5 million on funds invested until they were needed by their respective office or department. Those funds can only be invested in specific programs.

Hawkins said the General Fund gained $900,000, the Law Enforcement Fund gained $600,000, the Health Department gained $1.1 million and the Road Fund is up $860,000.

She said interest rates will likely not remain high for an extended length of time, but the county is taking advantage of those rates while they exist.

Palmer said county staff remained true to a traditionally conservative spending and hiring mindset, resulting in the county starting the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year with a fund balance of $103,987,787, that’s up more than $12 million over the last Fiscal Year’s beginning fund balance.

Palmer said the county expended about 64% of its adopted budget.

The General Fund spent 78%, the Road Fund 55%, the Law Enforcement Levy 71% and the Health Department 59%.

Of the total spending, 88% was for personal services, 66% was for materials and services and 43% was for capital projects.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a contract with Karen Knox Counseling for $72,000 for counseling for youth with sexually problematic behaviors housed at the Juvenile Detention Center and a contract for $32,000 for psychological evaluations with Dr. Jerome Gordon.
• Approved advertising for bids to construct an RV dump for the Linn County Parks Department in partnership with the City of Sweet Home. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will provide about 50% of the total project cost.
• Approved participating in a national opioid settlement agreement with Kroger Co.
• Received a report from Sheriff Michelle Duncan that the maximum number of inmates to bed held at the Linn County Jail is currently 231. That number will change once a new women’s cellblock is constructed.
• Were informed by Planning & Building Director Steve Wills that 255 total building permits were issued in June. Of those, 26 were for dwellings — seven single-family, three manufactured homes and 14 additions or alterations. There were 12 code enforcement cases closed and six opened.
• Approved a First-Time Youth Wage Agreement with the Lebanon Aquatic Center.
• Approved a mutual lease agreement and right of refusal between Samaritan Albany General Hospital and Linn County. The agreement is for the Seventh Street Medical Building, which the county recently purchased.
• In a Public Hearing, approved a Comprehensive Code Text Amendment and Reasons Exception to land use planning affecting 1.4 acres of a 99.96-acre property adjacent to the Millersburg city limits. The City of Millersburg wants to create an urban driveway through EFU-zoned property to gain access to two landlocked properties that will be developed for a Timberlab factory. Timberlab manufactures high-strength, wood-based building materials. A recent project is the Portland International Airport’s 400,000 square foot timber roof.
• Approved updating and clarifying road construction ands access standards with the Oregon Fire Code.  

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.