Portland City Council weighs new levy to fund parks

The Portland city council is considering a tax increase to support park funding, weighing two proposals that would raise the rate to either $1. 37 or $1. 47 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Currently, homeowners contribute 80 cents per $1,000, and the proposed changes would increase annual costs to approximately $342 or $367. Public input sessions have revealed criticisms regarding the funding process, particularly from horticulturist Ryan Hite, who stated that parks should not rely on voter approval for budgets like other city bureaus do.

While Portland receives a substantial amount of volunteer hours for park maintenance, contributing about 7% of park spending, it falls short in financial contributions from nonprofits, with only 1% compared to other cities that achieve up to 30%. Full-time park staffing in Portland is also lower than in cities like Minneapolis and Seattle, which have over 13 employees per 1,000 residents. The council aims to finalize the levy referral by July 16, allowing it to appear on the November ballot. This discussion underscores the broader challenge of establishing sustainable funding for public parks in the city. The outcome of this levy could significantly impact the future of Portland's park system.