By Yuxing Zheng
The Oregonian
SALEM — Budget adjustments in the works by Oregon lawmakers would inject about $175 million into two large state agencies that provide social services and run prisons.
The adjustments under review by legislative leaders would fill the $100 million gap in the budget of the Department of Human Services and $76 million of the $90 million gap in the Department of Corrections, said Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, one of the chairs of Joint Ways & Means Committee.
“There are no program cuts,” Buckley said. “But they still have challenges.”
Oregon is more than a quarter of the way through the 2013-15 budget, but lawmakers can periodically revisit the budget to make adjustments. Corrections and Human Services topped the list of budget concerns for lawmakers during the ongoing 35-day legislative session.
Much of the money to fill the gaps in the two departments would come from two sources: the restoration of money held back last year and the distribution of money set aside for collective bargaining costs.
Lawmakers last year withheld 2 percent from the general fund budgets of state agencies, with the exception of most education programs, after the previous budget cycle ended with less money than expected. They’ll have to consider how much of that $154 million to release this year.
Under the proposed budget deal, the departments of Corrections, Human Services, Justice and some small agencies would receive the full amount withheld, Buckley said. Other departments would receive varying percentages of the money restored while others, such as the Department of Revenue, not receive any of the withheld money, he said.
About $86.5 million set aside last year in a “salary pot” to cover collective bargaining costs will also be distributed, Buckley said.
A $40 million bill for last year’s wildfire season is also expected to be paid for with general fund money, he said.