A new budget plan to try and head off any effects of a possible economic downturn would allow the county to start using the never-opened Wapato jail.

By shifting resources, the county hopes to trim expenses while still maintaining services.

According to Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, the sheriff’s office proposed closing some beds in the downtown Justice Center to save more than $2 million. That’s because the inmate population there has stabilized, according to Wheeler.

The $59 million-Wapato facility is still in brand new condition, with more than 500 empty beds and has never seen an inmate because there was no operating money.

“No one in Multnomah County wants to see more jail beds closed.” Wheeler adds that “Jail population has stabilized at a level below our funded capacity over the last year.”

Link: County budget info

A grand jury recently criticized outgoing Sheriff Bernie Giusto's management of the jails, citing abuse of sick leave and overtime among a list of problems. It urged the jails be turned over to an independent manager.

Cheaper alternatives like electronic monitoring will offset some of the loss of beds, along with opening Wapato.

Wheeler said they did not plan to cut any budgets for county services including programs on aging, disabilities, mental health, community health clinics, SUN schools, domestic violence, drug treatment, housing, anti-poverty programs, public health, courts, homeless youth, animals, citizen involvement, libraries, emergency management and land use planning.

The county will also try to save cash by cutting vehicle fleet costs, reducing landscape maintenance, phone and other office business costs.

The board of commissioners will hold a series of public hearings on the proposed budget starting Tuesday May 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Multnomah County East Building at 600 NE 8th in Gresham.

More were scheduled to follow.