The City's New Fiscal Year and Civic Life

Portland's City Council approved an $8. 6 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, the first under the new mayor-council government structure. The budget process began with draft recommendations from the City Administrator in February and concluded with a vote on June 18. The adopted budget maintains funding for key Civic Life programs, such as the Neighborhoods program and the Diversity Civic Leadership program. However, it also eliminates five positions within Civic Life, including a manager and two neighborhood program liaisons, prompting a reassessment of service levels.

Civic Life currently has 9. 5 staff members and plans to update partners on the impacts of these staffing changes. Officials acknowledged the difficulty of budget decisions that affect personnel and thanked outgoing staff for their valuable contributions, with their final day set for August 1, 2025. This budget reflects the city's commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with community service needs. The ongoing evaluation of staffing impacts will be crucial for maintaining service quality.