Jefferson County and the City of Madras are asking residents across the county to help shape the future of local government — and officials say community participation is key to making the plans meaningful for everyone who calls Jefferson County home.
The planning effort, launched in mid-2025, will produce strategic plans for both the county and the city guiding decisions on services, infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and quality of life through 2030. Both plans are expected to be finalized in the coming months.
A Rare Collaborative Approach
"Jefferson County and the City of Madras are partnering to create a shared vision for the future," officials stated when launching the initiative. The dual planning process — with each organization developing its own plan while coordinating on shared priorities — is designed to reduce duplication, align limited resources, and build a more unified regional identity.
The 2026-2030 strategic planning effort represents one of the more significant collaborative governance initiatives in the region in recent years. City and county leadership are working together around challenges that cross jurisdictional lines: housing affordability, workforce development, public safety staffing, and aging infrastructure maintenance.
How Residents Can Participate
- Online surveys available at madras.gov and jeffersoncountyor.gov — the quickest way to register your priorities
- Community events scheduled throughout the planning process — check city and county social media channels for upcoming dates
- Public meetings — the Madras City Council and Jefferson County Board of Commissioners accept public comment at their regular sessions
Why Rural and Tribal Voices Matter
Officials from both jurisdictions have emphasized that the process is designed to reflect the full county — not just the Madras urban core. Jefferson County spans more than 1,780 square miles and includes the Warm Springs Reservation, the Crooked River Ranch community, the towns of Culver and Metolius, and vast stretches of ranching and agricultural land.
Input from rural residents, tribal community members, and agricultural producers is essential to ensuring that strategic priorities reflect life across the whole county. A strategic plan shaped only by voices closest to city hall risks missing the realities facing outlying communities.
These plans will influence how local tax dollars are spent, which infrastructure projects move forward, and how your community looks in five years. Now is the time to make your priorities heard.
For more information or to take the community survey, visit madras.gov or jeffersoncountyor.gov. Questions can be directed to Madras City Hall at (541) 475-2344 or the Jefferson County Administrative office at (541) 475-4451.