Finance

The Columbia County Finance Department is responsible for tax collection, accounting services, and financial administration of the county including payroll, budgets, and accounts payable.

Finance Department staff provide the Board of Commissioners and departments with financial information, forecasting, program and financial analysis, as well as ensure that budget processes comply with applicable laws. The department is responsible for the county's annual budget, and for helping departments prepare and administer their specific budgets. The budget covers all major operating functions of the County as well as elected and administrative functions.

Specific functions of the Finance Department include:

  • Annual budget coordination
  • Financial planning
  • Internal and external financial reporting
  • General accounting
  • Accounts payable
  • Payroll processing
  • Capital asset records
  • Property tax billing and collection
  • Property tax distribution to taxing districts
  • Investments and banking
  • Revenue management

Budget Committee
The six-member Budget Committee reviews the county’s proposed annual budget as well as the budget for the Columbia County Development Agency. Before approval, committee members hold a hearing to listen to public comment, make possible changes to the proposed budget, and provide advice and direction to county department leaders. The committee typically meets two to three times annually from April through June and is made up of the three county commissioners and an equal number of county residents. Members generally have a financial or budgeting background and must live in Columbia County, be registered to vote, and may not be employees, officers, or agents of the county.


Notice of Budget Committee Meeting
A public meeting of the Budget Committee of Columbia County, State of Oregon, to discuss the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, will be held at 230 Strand Street St. Helens, Oregon 97051 in room 310. The meetings will take place on May 1, 2024, and May 7, 2024, through May 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to receive the budget message and to receive comments from the public on the budget.

This is a public meeting where deliberations of the Budget Committee will take place. Any person may appear at the meeting and discuss the proposed programs with the Budget Committee.

A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained on or after May 1, 2024, at https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/Finance.

Notice: Budget Committee Meetings will be conducted as hybrid sessions. In addition to the in-person location listed above, the meetings will also be available on the web as follows:

https://meet.goto.com/129709213 United States (Toll-Free): 1 866 899 4679

Access Code: 129-709-213


Adopted Budget Calendar for FY2024-2025

Annual budgets

Meadowview Budget Documents

Annual budgets

Columbia County Development Agency (CCDA) Budget Documents

Annual budgets

Annual Audited Financial Reports

Capital Improvement Plans

General Information
Phone Numbers
(503) 397-0060
Fax: (503) 397-7251
Emergencies: Dial 911
Location
230 Strand Street
Saint Helens,
OR
97051

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.