County Administrator
County Administrator
In Benton County, the county administrator is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and is responsible for managing County operations, ensuring County functions are carried out efficiently.
Contact the county administrator at 541-766-6800.
Responsibilities
- Direct and manage department directors, internal business support functions, and assign staff to assure alignment with commissioner priorities.
- Responsible for personnel management (in consultation with the Board of Commissioners), such as hiring, establishing goals, performance evaluations, corrective actions and dismissals, and labor negotiations.
- Explore and evaluate strategic opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness through the establishment of standards and performance measures.
- Facilitate interdepartmental collaboration, integration and communication.
- Oversee the development and administration of policies, procedures, programs, countywide strategic planning activities, goals and objectives.
- Advise on and implement commissioners’ strategic planning, policy and program priorities, and objectives.
Interim County Administrator Rick Crager
Rick Crager was appointed interim county administrator in March 2026.
Crager joined Benton County as the chief financial officer in 2021. As CFO, he led the creation of the $485 million 2023-25 biennium budget. The same year, the County received a credit upgrade from Moody’s Investor Services.
In March 2024, Crager was promoted to the position of assistant county administrator, overseeing seven departments: Assessment; Community Development; Community Health Centers; Health Services; Juvenile Services; Natural Areas, Parks & Events; and Public Works. As acting director of Financial Services, he led the creation of the $540 million 2025-27 biennium budget.
Before joining Benton County, Crager dedicated more than three decades to public service with the State of Oregon. His statewide leadership roles in finance and policy spanned various sectors including housing, education, transportation and public safety, demonstrating his versatility and depth of expertise.
Crager was also the assistant superintendent of finance and information technology for the Oregon Department of Education. In that role, he collaborated closely with school districts across the state, overseeing the allocation and administration of crucial resources for Oregon’s schools.
Crager is a lifelong Oregonian and a graduate of Linfield College with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, with a special focus in Finance.