The Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a $692 million 2022-23 budget Wednesday that contains more than $1.7 million to buy land for permanent housing for victims of the 2020 Labor Day fires.
The $1,706,500 Intergovernmental Agreement Land Acquisition Grant with Oregon Housing and Community Services will buy seven parcels of land in Mill City that will total 15 acres.
“We have been diligently working to overcome barriers to this project for over a year, and I can’t express how moved I am to finally to see it coming to fruition,” said Marion County Chair Danielle Bethell. “Families who lost everything in the fires who long to return home to their community will see that desire become a reality, and it’s really a testament to the hard work of county staff to support these individuals. While homes still need to be built on this land, the land purchase itself is a tremendous first step toward that goal.”
The housing will be based on people’s income level.
Almost $68 million of the county’s budget comes from American Rescue Plan funds. That money will be used for urban and rural infrastructure, improve community spaces, and help low- to moderate-income residents.
The county said its budget is the largest it has ever approved.