Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County Commissioners have approved a budget that includes $25 million in cutbacks. April Baer reports.

Oregon's most populous county was able to avoid more serious reductions when the union representing most county employees voted to forgo $15 million in promised wage increases.

The County is still waiting to see what comes out of Salem. About half the county's budget is dependent on how the state legislature allocates cash.

Commissioner Deborah Kafoury says the worst may be yet to come, but that the county has done what it can to prepare.

Deborah Kafoury: "I think there are a lot of people out there who aren't going to get services they need. The programs are still going to be there, but they're only going to be able to serve maybe half the amount of folks who really need those services."

The budgeting process was a trial by fire for Kafoury and two others who are new to the Commission this year. She called it a steep learning curve.