According to a new memo from the Portland Parks Foundation, public opinion research indicates that there is weak support among Portland residents for a proposed doubling of the Parks Levy.
This increase, which is desired by Portland Parks & Recreation officials, aims to prevent severe cuts to the city’s parks system.
The research, conducted by MSH Strategies for the Parks Foundation, was shared with Portland Parks & Recreation leaders earlier this month and presents a challenging outlook for the parks bureau.
The bureau has indicated that if the current property tax levy is not increased from 80 cents to $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value, it may need to eliminate 25% of its current services.
The memo revealed that support for the doubling of the levy stands at an uncertain “low 50s” and lacks strong intensity.
The findings suggest that support between 50% and 55% is inadequate, especially considering this level of backing is recorded before any potential opposition campaigns are launched.
Conversely, an increase of the levy to $1.30 had support levels reported in the “mid-50s” with stronger intensity, and a straightforward renewal of the levy at its current rate of 80 cents received “strong voter support” in the mid-60s.
Leaders from Portland Parks & Recreation have cautioned that merely renewing the existing levy would result in a significant cut of 25% to services, pushing the bureau to advocate for a measure to double the levy on the November ballot.
Failure to increase the levy could compel the parks bureau to cut $35 million from its budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.
The May 16 memo from MSH, while revealing important insights, provided limited details about the research methodology, including the specific questions asked and the number of respondents surveyed.
Despite the lack of depth in the memo, the overarching results signal a precarious situation ahead.
As the City Council gears up to finalize the next city budget, Mayor Keith Wilson has put forth a budget that significantly cuts outdoor parks maintenance funding.
Current councilors are exploring various measures to alleviate the parks maintenance shortfall, with two amendments approved to restore $3 million to this area so far.
Last week, the City Council voted 7-5 in favor of reallocating $2 million in new police funding to support the parks bureau’s maintenance needs.
During discussions about the budget reallocation, Councilor Steve Novick referenced the Portland Metro Chamber’s conditional support for the potential doubling of the Parks Levy, contingent upon the preservation of the funding for the Portland Police Bureau.
Jon Isaacs, the vice president of public affairs for the Portland Metro Chamber, confirmed that their willingness to support a levy increase hinges on the assurance that funding for police is maintained.
“The chamber is open to a potential Parks Levy increase if it is explicitly to fund parks maintenance, safety, cleanliness, and modernization of parks operations,” Isaacs stated.
The introduction of cuts to police staffing at a critical moment in budget discussions poses challenges for the city’s budget and for potential support of the parks levy.
The recent polling from MSH, now presented to city councilors, underscores the importance of negotiating a deal between the parks bureau and opposing parties to strengthen the case for a levy increase.
If leaders decide to pursue a $1.60 levy, the already weak voter support could falter further in the face of organized opposition.
The perspective of the local chamber of commerce, which aligns with many stakeholders who could mobilize against the increase, will be essential in determining the future of the parks levy.
In their recommendations, MSH advised that a doubling of the levy demands broad support, warning that any division among partners and city councilors could ultimately jeopardize the outcome at the ballot box.
The memo emphasized that “given current public opinion, the single most important factor in passing a levy and maximizing Parks services is the strength of support and the intensity of opposition.”
Amid the existing division, the firm asserted that any signs of discord could amplify public skepticism about the proposal.
The ideal scenario is for city leaders to establish a strong coalition to present a unified and clear message to voters.
City Council members are set to hold a three-hour work session on the Parks Levy on Monday, which will be crucial as they navigate these challenges and seek to achieve an outcome that benefits Portland’s parks system.
image source from：https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2025/05/30/doubling-parks-levy-would-be-a-difficult-sell-to-voters-memo-says/
