Councilors consider low-income assistance

HOOD RIVER — Finance Director Christopher Longinetti presented the current fiscal year’s first quarter financial performance report at the Nov. 10 Hood River City Council meeting.

General Fund expenditures are all within budget expectations, he said.

“Through Q1 FY26, the overall year-end estimates of General Fund revenues are within 1.0% of budget expectations,” he said. “While adjustments have been made for some revenue categories, second quarter receipts will be more indicative of any sustained revenue trends.”

Council President Gladys Rivera asked if there were General Fund dollars that could be made available to help with emergency food assistance, citing delayed SNAP benefit payments earlier this month.

“As we talk about our finances, I think it’s important to understand what sort of general fund monies would we have available, what is the right amount, should that situation happen again,” she said. “Or … some resources specific to supporting some of our very vulnerable community members.”

“I agree that there should be some sort of contingency allocated towards disasters … while bearing in mind that we can’t make up all the shortcomings we have because of the state tax structure or the federal government playing politics with people’s lives,” said Councilor Doug Stepina.

Longinetti said there are contingency funds already designated for the city’s temporary shelters and a low-income utility assistance program — as of last month, around 110 were receiving utility assistance.

“As we move through in future quarters, we’ll understand what may or may not be spent — those would be dollars that could be reallocated if council wishes,” he said.