Ben West Calls for Accountability After Multnomah County’s $104M Homeless Budget Shortfall
Published on OPB.org
An OPB article detailing Multnomah County’s stunning $104 million homeless-services budget shortfall highlights Commissioner Ben West as one of the region’s strongest voices demanding transparency and accountability. The revelation — which blindsided state and regional leaders — came after Multnomah County acknowledged it had used roughly $80 million in temporary, one-time funding to sustain ongoing programs, creating what OPB described as a “precipitous” budget cliff.
At a Metro meeting on the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) tax, West said he was “deeply disappointed” and warned that Multnomah County’s financial mismanagement threatens the integrity of the entire region’s homelessness response. He emphasized that Clackamas County taxpayers — who have seen their county consistently meet spending targets and fund programs responsibly — should not be expected to “bail out” a neighboring county that overspent without adequate oversight.
West called for an independent audit, saying Multnomah County’s actions “failed dismally” both in comparison to other counties and on an absolute scale. His comments underscored growing concern among state and local officials that the crisis will further erode public trust in government’s ability to address homelessness, especially as other jurisdictions — including Clackamas — work to expand treatment access, build shelter capacity, and strengthen accountability systems.
The article also notes that Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, and Metro Council President Lynn Peterson were similarly “dismayed,” but West’s remarks stood out for their direct call to protect taxpayers and insist on a full explanation before any regional dollars are redirected.
Content credit to OPB.org
