The newly constituted 12-member Portland City Council is set to tackle the crucial challenge of approving the city’s annual budget during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday. This is a significant event in the council’s early tenure, particularly as the body looks to fulfill the various campaign promises of its members.
Mayor Keith Wilson presented his proposed budget on May 5, leading to fervent discussions in City Hall. The upcoming session is expected to be extensive, with councilors likely to propose between 80 and 120 budget amendments. Early proposals from council members reveal a mix of significant modifications and minor tweaks.
A major focus of the councilors is the proposed nearly $7 million cuts to maintenance within Portland Parks & Recreation, an issue that has raised alarm among many council members. They are advocating for adjustments to preserve services such as bathroom cleaning, trash collection, and playground repairs. Councilor Eric Zimmerman has suggested reallocating $5.8 million by cutting jobs related to tree inspection to bolster maintenance funding instead. Meanwhile, Councilor Steve Novick has proposed closures of certain facilities to save nearly $2 million without impacting maintenance.
Another contentious point arises from councilors Mitch Green and Jamie Dunphy’s proposal to eliminate the annual funding for Prosper Portland, the city’s economic development agency, which they argue should instead rely on the Strategic Investment Fund. This proposal has elicited strong opposition from various community leaders and small business advocates who warn it could endanger key economic development projects and lead to layoffs.
The budget also reflects significant discussions around public safety funding, with councilors like Novick suggesting using unarmed personnel for certain 911 calls to reduce overtime costs in the police bureau. Councilor Sameer Kanal is looking to shift funds for overtime pay into a more controlled budget pot.
In addressing housing and homelessness, the proposed budget plans to open hundreds of new shelter beds. However, several councilors are advocating for increased rental assistance and support for low-income tenants. This echoes concerns from housing advocacy groups that the focus on short-term solutions may overlook deeper issues.
As the council gears up for a marathon session, they face the challenge of balancing these diverse needs and funding priorities within a constrained budget. The outcome of this meeting will likely set the tone for Portland’s finances in the coming year and could usher in significant changes across various city services.
This budgetary debate reflects the council’s intent to engage more with community priorities, a hopeful sign that ongoing discussions will address pressing city needs. The public can contribute their thoughts and observations during this process as the council strives to finalize a balanced budget by June 11.