Harney County Court voted unanimously Dec. 3 to approve Resolution 2025‑33, authorizing the appropriation of $150,000 in unanticipated grant revenue for a new Behavioral Health Deflection program.

Speaker 2 introduced the resolution and cited ORS 294.338 as the legal authority allowing appropriation for unforeseen conditions. The funds were awarded to the Harney County Criminal Justice Commission and the district attorney’s office to support a program that offers voluntary deflection from criminal charges into treatment, recovery supports, housing assistance and case management.

Court members asked for detail on budget categories and how the funding would be used. Speaker 4 asked specifically about the line item labeled “materials and supplies.” Speaker 2 said the DA’s office had prepared the program budget submitted to the state and that the county was not party to program budgeting beyond recording the grant revenue and allowable expenditures.

The court moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by voice vote. Speaker 2 noted the award was not anticipated during preparation of the 2025‑26 county budget, prompting the need for the supplemental appropriation.

Next steps: the county will record the revenue and adjust departmental appropriation categories to reflect the grant and proceed with the program as administered by the DA’s office and the Criminal Justice Commission.