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Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen signed an executive rule to require gender-neutral restrooms when upgrading or building new county facilities on Tuesday, June 11. The rule makes Multnomah County is the first county in the nation to mandate the accessible restrooms. [Read more]

DETAILS: Review frequently asked questions about gender-neutral restrooms

Multnomah County’s Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a budget on Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year that is stable, thanks to years of tough financial decisions by the board and sacrifices by county employees

“This is an exciting year for me, Chair Jeff Cogen said before the board voted 5-0 to approve the budget for fiscal year 2014. “This is the first time in 13 years we’re not cutting our budget.” [Read more]

Joint Statement from Chair Cogen and Mayor Hales

May 16th, 2013

We are happy to announce we have reached a budget agreement to preserve key community services that include SUN schools, the needle exchange program, the one-stop domestic violence center, our senior centers and the Crisis Assessment Treatment Center.

Because Multnomah County is in a stable budget position this year, we agreed that the county will pick up the city's share for the needle exchange program and one-stop domestic violence center. And the county will provide one-time-only money to fund a portion of the city's reduction to our community's senior centers and split the cost of three SUN schools for one year, giving both the city and county time to work on a longer-term solution for both of those vital services. [Read more]

News and Announcements

Board of Commissioners honors Loving Day in Multnomah County

6/13/13 - 5:46 pm

The Board of Multnomah County Commissioners officially proclaimed June 12 as Loving Day throughout Multnomah County in honor of the 46th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that overturned all laws banning interracial marriage in the United States.

Multnomah County Board of Commissioners proclaims June 20 as World Refugee Day

6/13/13 - 1:44 pm

The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners declared June 20, 2013 as World Refugee Day in Multnomah County on Thursday.

Members of the local business community wanted for Business Advisory Council

5/22/13 - 2:23 pm

The county is seeking business owners, executives, directors and managers who are interested in improving our local economy and the environment for businesses in Multnomah County by serving on the Multnomah County Business Advisory Council (BAC).

Shine on: Announcing the 2013 Multnomah County Employee Award recipients

5/1/13 - 9:19 am

Chair Cogen and the Board of County Commissioners honored colleagues at the fourth annual Multnomah County Employee Awards Ceremony for their commitment to public service on Wednesday, May 8.

Local students share Sellwood Bridge landslide models with county board

4/24/13 - 11:15 am

Five high school seniors from the ACE Academy in Northeast Portland presented two models of the Sellwood Bridge landslide mitigation at the April 23 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.

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About Multnomah County

Population: Approximately 748,000 residents (the most populous of Oregon's 36 counties)

Geography: 465 square miles (the smallest of Oregon's counties)

Cities: Fairview, Gresham, Maywood Park, Portland, Troutdale, Wood Village

County Employees: About 4,400 people.

Functions: Services for seniors and disabled people, animal services, assessment and taxation, bridges, community justice, courts, elections, health, jails, libraries, marriage licenses and passports, school and community partnerships.

Elected officials: Four commissioners elected to the board by district. Elected countywide are a board chair, sheriff, district attorney and auditor.

Weekly board meetings: At 9:30 a.m. Thursdays, first-floor board room, 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.

County History: Created on Dec. 22, 1854 and named after native people in the region.