Portland City Council redirects $2 million from police to parks
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In a marathon 15-hour session, city councilors made some significant tweaks to the budget that included redirecting money from police to parks, more fees for rideshare companies and less money for their own office budgets.
Why it matters: Councilors Wednesday night were staring down a $93 million budget shortfall for the coming fiscal year due to falling tax revenue, expiring one-time funds and rising costs.
Catch up quick: The goal of the meeting was to amend the proposed $8.5 billion budget Mayor Keith Wilson submitted earlier this month.
- Wilson's proposal included millions in cuts to city services and layoffs of government staff, while investing in more shelter beds and expanding Portland's unarmed crisis response team.
The intrigue: Arguably the most contentious of the more than 100 amendments considered came at the very end of the meeting, just half an hour before a midnight deadline.
- Councilor Candace Avalos sought to redirect a $2 million increase in police funding — intended to bolster recruiting and retention — to park maintenance.
- "This is not about reducing police effectiveness," Avalaos said. "It is about a balanced approach to public safety that includes well-maintained parks where families feel safe gathering."
- Councilor Angelita Morillo noted the police bureau has dozens of funded positions that currently sit unfilled.
What they're saying: "This is not a cut to police. There will not be a single officer laid off," Morillo said. "This was a $2 million increase to the police budget, which no other bureau received."
- "Increasing the police budget when we are slashing park maintenance did not sit well with me," said Councilor Steve Novick, who has made funding for parks a priority.
The other side: "The money that the mayor earmarked was designed to fund ongoing recruitment efforts and patrol missions that reduce crime," Aaron Schmautz, president of the Portland Police Association, told Axios. "The absence of them will have the inverse effect."
- Before her no vote Wednesday night, Councilor Olivia Clark noted the city's progress on crime reduction, and said passage of the amendment sends "the wrong message to the public and the rest of the country that watches us."
Between the lines: Earlier in the day, councilors approved other amendments that increased revenue and cut expenses.
- Fees on rideshare companies were increased from 65 cents to $2 to provide funding for the transportation department.
- Golf fees on Portland's public courses were increased by $5 per nine-hole round to generate money for parks.
- Councilors also voted to decrease their own office budgets, which cover administrative costs, by $120,000 each.
What we're watching: The city's workforce will shrink through layoffs and eliminating unfilled positions, but it was unclear by how much as city leaders were still working through how the budget would be implemented, officials said in a written statement.
What's next: Smaller amendments to the budget are likely at the council's June 11 meeting, and a final vote is scheduled for June 18.