If you’re a regular reader of City Club Weekly, you might recall our City Budget 101 issue from January. Since then, the City Administrator and City Budget Office released preliminary budget recommendations that are intended to get the conversation started about where the biggest gaps in the budget exist, where the biggest gaps in the budget exist, and some of their ideas about how to decrease spending and/or increase revenue.

We’re now entering Phase 2—well, maybe 2.5—of the budget process: drafting and gathering feedback to finalize the Proposed Budget.

The Budget Office is currently gathering community budget priorities before the City Administrator and Mayor present a unified proposed budget to City Council by May 5.

Now is the time to voice your opinion about how to balance the budget. City Councilors, Mayor Wilson, and the Budget Office want to hear your ideas on potential cuts and what we need to preserve before the final proposed budget goes to council for work sessions and a vote in May-June.

The $93 million shortfall

Portland faces a $93 million budget gap in the general fund, driven by inflation, expiring pandemic-era federal funds, rising costs, and declining property and business tax revenue.

Just a refresher: The city’s budget is made up of two types of funds—90% legally restricted and 10% unrestricted. This year, we are facing a shortfall of unrestricted revenue, which powers the general fund. In Portland, most of the general fund supports fire, police, and parks.

Within these service areas are several existing programs that Portlanders depend on and would like to see maintained at current levels, if not expanded, as well as programs we’d like to see added. Unfortunately, with limited funding, city leaders will have to make tough choices about which programs to preserve, scale back, or cut, and adding new programs will likely be difficult.

The preliminary budget recommendations by service area suggest cuts to street maintenance, including scaling back pothole repair and pedestrian safety enhancements, and reducing or eliminating parks summer programming, including reducing hours at community centers. Programs facing potential cuts include Summer Camps, the Youth Conservation Crew, and PBOT’s Street Plaza Program.

They do not recommend cuts to police, fire, Portland Street Response, and the 911 call center, and programs that remove homeless encampments, graffiti and trash in public spaces.

Ways to give input

Budget listening sessions will be held in all four districts and virtually in March and April. Anyone from any district can attend any meeting.

There will not be time for Q&A, but questions will be collected in person and online, and there will be time for public testimony. To sign up for a 90-second testimony slot, add your name to the list when you arrive at the event. We will accommodate as many speakers as possible by 8:30 p.m.

Can’t make it? Submit your thoughts online through the Budget Comment Form. Throughout the budget year, community members have many opportunities to provide input on the budget process. Keep an eye on all budget engagement opportunities at Portland.gov/Budget/Join.