A walk‑on item at the Oct. 30 Yamhill County meeting prompted a heated discussion about whether the board should immediately send a letter to the governor urging use of state funds to maintain SNAP benefits during a federal funding lapse. The board first considered a version prepared by the chair (characterized by one commissioner as political in tone); that motion failed. The board subsequently approved, by a 2–1 margin, a motion to wait one week and revisit the request after monitoring state action.

What happened in the meeting
Commissioner King and other speakers urged the county to ask the governor to use state resources — including the Emergency Board and rainy‑day funds — to stabilize SNAP benefits for residents. “We’re asking for some help from the governor,” Commissioner King said, urging a nonpartisan approach focused on feeding families. Commissioner Starett said he would not be comfortable signing the chair’s letter because he viewed its tone as political and preferred a concise, apolitical appeal for immediate assistance.

Votes and outcome
- Motion to send Chair’s letter to the governor: FAILED (vote recorded as split; several commissioners voiced opposition citing political tone).
- Motion to delay sending a board letter for one week and reassess: PASSED (2 ayes, 1 nay); commissioners noted individual letters from board members remain permissible.

Why it matters
SNAP benefits support low‑income households, seniors and people with disabilities. Commissioners framed the discussion as a nonpartisan request for the executive branch to use available state resources to prevent disruptions in benefits, while differing on tone and process for sending a county letter.

Quoted
“We’re basically saying, we urge you to use state resources to backfill the SNAP benefits until the issue is resolved,” Commissioner King said. Commissioner Starett said he did not want the board’s message to be “political grandstanding.”

What’s next
The board agreed to revisit the matter in one week; commissioners may also submit individual letters to the governor.