Portland City Councilors are expressing concerns about whether voters will support an increase to the five-year parks levy set to be addressed in November.
Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is a decision about the kind of city we want Portland to be. A failure to address parks funding results in very painful losses both on the staff side and on the recreation side.”
The current parks levy, approved in 2020, mandates property owners to pay $0.80 per $1,000 in assessed property value each year. For instance, owners of homes with the median assessed value of $228,000 in Multnomah County pay approximately $182 annually. These funds support community centers, pools, recreational classes, camps, park discounts for low-income households, and routine maintenance, among other initiatives.
However, renewing this levy at the current rate may not suffice to maintain the existing level of services. Factors such as inflation, a decline in fee payments for park facilities, and decreasing property tax values have contributed to this funding dilemma, according to Sonia Schmanski, the deputy city administrator overseeing Portland Parks & Recreation.
During a recent City Council meeting, Schmanski suggested that to sustain current programs, the levy fee would need to double from $0.80 to $1.60. She indicated that this increase would be essential for the city’s Parks Bureau to maintain its programs and services in the upcoming fiscal year, which commences in July.
Yet, some councilors are apprehensive about proposing such a significant change to voters. District 4 Councilor Eric Zimmerman remarked, “It’s a hell of a thing to tell a taxpayer, ‘We want to give you exactly the same thing tomorrow as we give you today, but you have to pay twice as much for it.’ It’s one of the worst political propositions I’ve ever been faced with.”
Councilor Loretta Smith from East Portland’s District 1 echoed similar concerns, pointing out that constituents may be unable to absorb another tax increase, especially given that local voters have approved multiple taxes and levies in recent years.
“We have put a lot of new taxes on the backs of constituents,” Smith stated. “I’m worried that there may be some pushback.”
If the city chooses to present only a $0.80 levy renewal to voters this November, it would face a daunting task of making $35 million in additional cuts the following year. Conversely, if voters reject a levy renewal of any amount, the Parks Bureau would confront a staggering $90 million budget shortfall, leading to workforce reductions of about half of its staff.
Pirtle-Guiney expressed her belief that not achieving a successful outcome is not an option, stating, “But anything short of a win is unacceptable for our city and the system.” Councilors must determine which levy rate to propose for the ballot and vote on this measure by July 16.
Recent polling regarding the proposed tax levy increase has yielded mixed results. An August poll commissioned by the city revealed that 65% of 664 surveyed Portland voters were in favor of raising the tax from $0.80 to $1.60. However, a subsequent poll commissioned by the Portland Parks Foundation, reported by Willamette Week, indicated a decrease in support.
In light of the changing economic landscape, several councilors have requested that the city conduct another poll to gauge public sentiment concerning the ballot measure, especially after recent budget discussions have clarified the ongoing funding crisis facing the Parks Bureau.
Mayor Keith Wilson’s proposed budget includes approximately $14 million in cuts to the Parks Bureau, with $7 million affecting park maintenance directly. In recent weeks, councilors have sought to address this financial gap by reallocating funds designated for other programs, including a notable proposal to use a projected $1.9 million increase to the Portland Police Bureau’s budget to cover maintenance costs for city parks.
The parks levy plays a crucial role in funding the department’s operations. In 2019, prior to the levy’s implementation, the Parks Bureau’s annual budget was approximately $90 million. For the upcoming year, that figure has risen to $170 million, with over 40% of the budget sourced from levy revenue.
However, much of the financial strain is attributable to a backlog of significant maintenance projects, such as the repair of roofs or the construction of new facilities. The current parks levy only encompasses smaller maintenance tasks, like mending broken bathroom sinks or fixing fences.
Advocates from the Portland Parks Alliance—a coalition comprising over a dozen park advocacy groups—have urged City Council members to allocate at least 10% of future parks levy revenue towards major maintenance initiatives. In their letter to City Councilors, they stressed that the Parks Bureau cannot adequately meet community needs without addressing the maintenance of its assets.
During the council meeting on Monday, various council members discussed this suggestion, noting the importance of persuading voters that the proposed levy increase is a worthy investment.
Councilor Candace Avalos from District 1 expressed commitment to ensuring the success of the campaign for the levy but insisted that the solution to the funding crisis should extend beyond the upcoming levy renewal.
“We need to make a stronger commitment over these next five years,” Avalos advised. “Or we are going to have the same conversation. The budget challenges in the next few years are going to be tough no matter what.”
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