Facing an onslaught of financial challenges, Lane County officials are in the early stages of wrestling with a budget plan for the fiscal year that starts in July.
The challenges are wide-reaching without a clear choice. Most county services are tied to state mandates and laws. The county also cannot simply raise property taxes as much as it wants or needs — those increases are capped at 3% annually.
Meanwhile, county leaders are estimating a structural budget deficit of $5 million in the general fund’s discretionary allocations for the next fiscal year. That’s a preliminary figure, but it represents about 7% of the county’s general fund programs, which include public safety, health and welfare, homeless services and many other government functions, like assessor’s office, elections and administration…