Follow the Budget Gap Discussion with the City Council
This page tracks the City Council’s decision-making process for the budget gap in the 2027-2029 biennial budget, so that community members can stay informed about key steps in the conversation.
The most current information is listed at the top. For questions or additional clarification, please email Finance Director James Inglis.
(Go back: The Budget Gap: 2027 and Beyond)
August 20, 2026 - The Council reviewed several scenarios for reducing core services to close the budget gap. Service cuts of $7.4 million annually all the way up to $20 million annually were discussed. Each scenario would require significant budget cuts across all departments. After discussing the service reduction scenarios, Councilors affirmed that their main priority to solve the budget gap is to find equitable, sustainable revenue solutions that can strategically support core services for years to come.
- Staff Report
- Minutes | Video
August 6, 2026 - The Council discussed their community engagement process for the upcoming budget gap and city facilities conversation. The Council will continue to refine the question(s) they'd like to bring to the public, as well as their timeline to receive information and make a final decision about revenue options.
July 23, 2026 Council Work Session - The Council discussed how they wanted to approach community outreach for the budget gap and facility conversation with the public. The objective is to provide the community with a more complete understanding of the current funding shortfall and the solutions the Council has developed.
June 15, 2026 Council Meeting - The Council reviewed their work so far toward tackling the City's upcoming budget gap and facility funding. The Council reaffirmed their intention to consider revenue options and, if necessary, service cuts to close the budget gap and address City facility needs. The Council also pledged to engage the community around revenue options and potential service cuts. The Council adopted Resolution 2026-24 as a milestone in their decision-making process.
June 4, 2026 Council Work Session - The Council discussed various different scenarios for implementing a payroll tax and/or a personal income tax to help address a pending budget gap that has been identified in the next fiscal year. Staff presented 24 different options for implementing one or both taxes.
May 7, 2026 Council Work Session - The Council discussed how a payroll tax and a personal income tax could generate adequate revenue to address the City's pending budget gap as well as critical facility improvements. ECO Northwest, the City's financial consultant, provided several scenarios to compare different levels of revenue that could be generated through different tax measures.
February 4, 2026 Council Work Session - The Council discussed the upcoming budget gap that will arrive in the next biennial budget, as well as funding options to address the projects on the citywide facilities list. The Council resolved to combine the funding needs for both issues and continue discussing revenue options to address both the budget gap and facilities funding.
January 22, 2026 Council Work Session - The Council received a report from ECO Northwest, a financial consulting firm, about the full scope of City revenue and how the City of Corvallis compares to other similarly sized cities in Oregon. The report concluded that Corvallis is not alone in dealing with a structural deficit in revenue for community services. Unlike several comparator cities, Corvallis is a full-service city, meaning that Corvallis residents support a much larger array of public services.
| Mark Shepard | City Manager | 541-766-6418 | city.manager@corvallisoregon.gov |
