TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Dan Atchison, City Attorney
SUBJECT:
title
Authorizing a donation to the Marion Polk Food Share
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
Staff is recommending that City Council consider a donation to the Marion Polk Food Share (MPFS) to assist city residents that are impacted by the suspension of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits caused by the federal shutdown.
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council authorize a donation to the MPFS in the amount of $20,000 to support residents impacted by the suspension of SNAP benefits caused by the federal shutdown and adopt Resolution No. 2025-30 to transfer $20,000 of appropriation within the FY 2026 General Fund budget for the donation?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize a donation to the MPFS in the amount of $20,000 to support residents impacted by the suspension of SNAP benefits caused by the federal shutdown and adopt Resolution No. 2025-30 to transfer $20,000 of appropriation within the FY 2026 General Fund budget for the donation.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
MPFS is a nonprofit food bank serving Salem area families in need. MPFS distributes food for individuals and families to more than 70 local partners, including food pantries and meal sites, and delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. Marion Polk Food Share - Food Assistance in the Mid-Valley <https://marionpolkfoodshare.org/>.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly food benefits to help individuals and families by providing access to healthy food. Federally funded and administered through the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), SNAP benefits are available to Oregon residents who meet certain income guidelines. In 2024 1 in 6 Oregon residents received SNAP benefits and more than 54% of SNAP participants are in families with children, 37% are older adults or disabled and 41% are in working families.
This information is from MPFS:
“SNAP funds ensure that families don't have to choose between rent and food or medical care and their next meal. 46,392 households in Marion and Polk counties receive SNAP benefits; 29,713 of those who benefit are children. The average benefit across both counties is $334 per month. The total amount of SNAP benefits distributed to families in those two counties every month is $15.6 million - which is more than the total value of food the Food Share distributes in a year.”
MPFS also provided the two infographics from DHS attached to this report that detail SNAP statistics for Marion and Polk Counties (Attachments 2 and 3).
The federal shutdown began on October 1, 2025 due to a failure to pass appropriations legislation for the federal government. This is the longest full federal government shutdown in U.S. history. On November 1, 2025 approximately 90,000 residents in Polk and Marion counties lost access to SNAP benefits. The administration has recently announced that partial payments to states will be restarted in response to court ruling. The administration also stated there will likely be significant delays due to procedural requirements for states to actually restart the partial benefits to recipients.
Governor Kotek declared a food emergency on October 29th that will be in effect in November and December. The Governor ordered that $5 million in state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) carryover funds be sent to Oregon food banks. The Marion County Board of Commissioners has discussed allocating $100,000 a week beginning in November of County economic development funds to pay for additional food baskets in partnership with local food shares and is set to take action this week.
Resolution No. 2025-30 will allocate $20,000 to pay for the donation.
FROM: General Fund, Non Departmental, Contingencies, 101-60961000-61110, $20,000
TO: General Fund, Non Departmental, Other Special Payments, 101-60961000-54850
BACKGROUND:
Oregon State budget law allows the City Council to approve a transfer of appropriation when a specific need is identified.
Dan Atchison
City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-30
2. Polk SNAP Infographic 10.25
3. Marion SNAP Infographic 10.25