What Does a County Commissioner Do?

It is a fact that most people do not know what a county commissioner does. This is generally true in each Oregon county and is true across the country. While specific duties may vary somewhat from county to county, the Board of Commissioners functions in three general areas:

• As a chief executive board, we have administrative and policy duties. We direct and evaluate appointed department heads, negotiate contracts, bargain with labor organizations, enact policies to deliver public services, and appoint residents to county advisory committees, boards, and commissions.
• As legislators, we enact ordinances that have the force of law.
• In making land use decisions, we render judgments in land use disputes as a quasi-judicial panel.

In Benton County, a major policy responsibility is establishing county priorities through the budget process. Allocations are made within resource limitations.  We have to consider competing needs, compliance with legislative mandated services, and funds legally restricted to specific uses. This work is done in collaboration with the citizens appointed to the Budget Committee and public input. The county departments include:

• Sheriff’s Office: jail, investigation and patrol, emergency services, civil, parole and probation, and support services.
• District Attorney: prosecution, victim assistance, and child support and protection.
• Administrative Services: elections, records and licenses, human resources, finance and accounting, budget, information resource management, and commission on children and families.
• Juvenile: counseling, supervision, and diversion.
• Natural Areas & Parks: resource management and parks.
• Community Development: planning and building inspection.
• Public Works: roads, bridges, survey, facilities maintenance, and motor pool.
• Health: public and environment health services, services for the developmentally disabled, mentally ill, and addictions.
• Assessment: property valuation.
• Other: fairgrounds, extension service, and health clinic.

Benton County Commissioners serve as board members or are otherwise involved in organizations that contribute to regional collaboration such as the Accountable Behavioral Health Alliance (e.g., mental health), Community Services Consortium (e.g., home weatherization and Food Share) and the Cascades West Council of Governments (e.g., transportation and services for Senior and Disabled). We also serve on a variety of state-level advisory committees, policy boards, taskforces and workgroups.

We work with state and federal officials, and advocate at the Oregon Legislature for legislation that aids in the delivery of services locally and that otherwise benefit Benton County.