PDX Agenda Tracker: Budget Frenzy! | May 12-15, 2025

Cuts, Consolidations, and Public Comment—What’s at Stake This Week

Dear Readers,

It’s (still) that time of year when local governments sharpen their red pencils, open their spreadsheets, and try to stretch limited dollars across unlimited needs. Budget season isn’t sexy—just long meetings, dense documents, and bureaucratic jargon. But beneath every line item is a political decision: Who gets housed. Who gets services. Who gets sidelined.

This week, Council, the County, and Metro are deep in budget mode—reviewing bureau presentations, weighing cuts, and fielding public input. Many departments are bracing for reductions at the city level, and Council is navigating competing demands across housing, public safety, climate, infrastructure, and essential services. The Mayor’s proposed budget includes a mix of status quo spending and strategic pivots, but it’s clear not every request made it through.

Multnomah County is also mid-crunch, with a packed week of budget work sessions and a public hearing. Public health, homelessness, and justice system spending are front and center, alongside routine modifications that shape how services are delivered on the ground.

Metro’s proposed budget of $1.9 billion doesn’t include an official shortfall, but the agency is moving to contain costs. With only 8.5% of its budget considered discretionary, Metro is making early cuts—including layoffs and venue consolidations—to get ahead of further financial strain.

If you want a say in how public money gets used—or not—this is the moment. Scroll down for summaries of this week’s key meetings and opportunities to make your voice heard.

Chloe

P.S. I got riled up about the Governor and Mayor’s proposal to waive SDC fees for developers and ended up writing an article-length rant about it! I’ll send it out later this week! In the meantime, read this to get up to date. Short version: I HATE IT!

Taking Back Resources by Sanya Hyland via Justseeds.

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Portland City Council

Monday, May 12th, 2025

9:30am: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting

This meeting focused on two pivotal topics: a citywide asset management strategy and the Mayor's proposed budget for transportation and infrastructure.

Building a Smarter Infrastructure Strategy

Councilor Olivia Clark introduced a resolution directing the City Administrator to develop a comprehensive Citywide Asset Management Strategy. This initiative aims to establish clear priorities and practices to address gaps in asset management maturity and financial planning. The goal is to create a more proactive and data-driven approach to maintaining and upgrading Portland's infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning and resource allocation.

Budgeting for the City's Future

The committee also delved into the Mayor's proposed budget concerning transportation and infrastructure. Councilor Clark led a one-hour presentation outlining the budget's key components, including funding allocations for ongoing projects and new initiatives. The discussion highlighted the need for strategic investment to support the city's growth and sustainability goals.

12pm: Finance Committee Meeting

The Finance Committee reviewed budget presentations for the City Administrator and Assistant City Administrator Offices, City Operations, and Budget & Finance. The presentation was informational and placed on file. The committee also discussed a proposed ordinance to grant Comcast a 10-year cable franchise agreement, allowing continued use of the city’s right-of-way. The item was referred to Council with a unanimous recommendation to pass.

2:30pm: City Council Work Session—Governance Work Session with HR&A Advisors, Inc.

Council held a work session with consultants from HR&A Advisors, Inc., a firm specializing in urban governance and public policy, to discuss the city's transition to a new form of government. The presentation covered completed milestones, staffing needs, and next steps for implementing Portland’s new city administrator model. HR&A emphasized the importance of clearly defining Council roles, increasing community engagement, and supporting a functional structure now that the new system is already in effect. Council members raised concerns about capacity, transparency, and the timeline for public input.

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Tuesday, May 13th, 2025

9:30am: City Council Work Session—Children’s Levy

Council held a work session to review upcoming funding recommendations for the Portland Children’s Levy. Staff presented an overview of the grantmaking process, equity criteria, and investment areas, which include early childhood, after-school programs, mentoring, foster care, child abuse prevention, and hunger relief. Council previewed the proposed list of grantees, which will go to a vote later this month. Several members raised questions about funding distribution across program areas and how the Levy evaluates impact.

12:00pm: Homelessness and Housing Committee Meeting

The committee reviewed the Mayor’s proposed FY 25–26 budgets for the Bureau of Planning and Permitting (PP&D) and the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB), along with a presentation from the new Portland Solutions unit. The presentation outlined proposed investments in shelter operations, affordable housing, permitting improvements, and neighborhood livability efforts.

2:30pm: Community and Public Safety Committee Meeting

The committee held a two-hour discussion on the Mayor’s proposed FY 25–26 budget for community and public safety. The presentation, introduced by Councilors Kanal and Novick, outlined planned investments across public safety bureaus and community programs.

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Wednesday, May 14th, 2025

9:30am: City Council Work Session—Budget Work Session with Operations & Finance, City Administrator

Council is holding a work session on the Mayor’s proposed FY 25–26 budgets for the City Administrator’s Office, Operations, and Finance. No supporting documents have been posted yet, but the discussion is expected to cover internal services, administrative staffing, and citywide coordination under the new form of government.

2pm: City Council Work Session—Budget Work Session on Community and Economic Development Service Area and Prosper Portland

Council is holding a budget work session on the Community and Economic Development service area, including Prosper Portland. The presentation outlines proposed investments in business support, workforce development, economic recovery, and culturally specific programming. Council is expected to review funding allocations and strategies for promoting equitable economic development citywide.

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Thursday, May 15th, 2025

9:30am: Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee Meeting

The committee is scheduled to spend nearly two hours reviewing the Mayor’s proposed FY 25–26 budget related to climate, resilience, land use, and parks. Introduced by Councilors Morillo and Novick, the presentation is expected to outline funding priorities across multiple bureaus. No supporting documents were available at the time of publication.

12:00pm: Labor and Workforce Development Committee Meeting

The committee is meeting to discuss the workforce development components of Prosper Portland’s proposed FY 25–26 budget. Introduced by Councilor Loretta Smith, the presentation is expected to focus on job training, youth employment, and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs. No supporting documents were available at the time of publication.

2:30pm: City Council Work Session—Budget Work Session for Public Works Service Area

Council is holding a budget work session on the Public Works Service Area. This group of bureaus includes Transportation (PBOT), Environmental Services (BES), and Water, all responsible for core infrastructure and utility services. The discussion is expected to cover proposed funding for maintenance, capital projects, and long-term planning. No supporting documents were available at the time of publication.

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Multnomah County Board of Commissioners

Thursday, May 15th | 9:30 AM

The County is expected to approve several consent items, including new appointments to the Audit Committee, budget modifications for public health and violence prevention programs, and notices of intent to apply for grant funding to support housing, nutrition, and mobile health services.

The regular agenda focuses on budget adjustments for rising utility and lease costs, including appropriations from the general fund contingency. Multiple Department of County Assets items address facility-related needs and contingency requests.

The Board is also scheduled to consider renewing Comcast’s franchise agreement through the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission. The proposed agreement includes updated terms for public facilities, service obligations, and jurisdictional roles.

Finally, Commissioners will review a new allocation of over $860,000 from the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department to support housing and community development efforts.

Multnomah County Budget Week | May 13–17, 2025

In addition to its regular Board meeting, Multnomah County is holding three budget work sessions and one hybrid public hearing this week. These meetings provide an in-depth look at department-level funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Supporting documents and presentation materials are available for each session.

• Tuesday, May 13 – Budget Work Session #4
  Topics: FY 2026 budgets for the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office

• Wednesday, May 14 – Budget Work Session #5
  Topic: FY 2026 budget for the Homeless Services Department

• Wednesday, May 14 – Hybrid Public Budget Hearing #1 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
  This is the first opportunity for the public to weigh in on the Chair’s Proposed FY 2026 Budget. In-person and virtual testimony is welcome, and interpretation is available in ASL, Spanish, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese.
  Submit Written Testimony or Request to Speak

• Thursday, May 15 – Budget Work Session #6
  Topic: Follow-up discussion and questions from earlier work sessions
  

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Metro Council

Thursday, May 15th | 10:30 AM

Nothing of interest for Street Wonk this week. Council will adjourn for a work session on Thursday but there was no additional information available at the time of publication.

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Wonk Out!

• Portland Mayor Keith Wilson looks to slash parks, permitting to balance budget (OPB)

• Parks Maintenance and Permitting Bureau Shoulder Brunt of Cuts in Mayor’s Proposed Budget (Willamette Week)

• Palaces for the People (99% Invisible Podcast)

• Social Infrastructure: The Real Investment Our Cities Need (Strong Towns)

• Social Infrastructure: Connecting People and Places for Thriving Communities (Gehl)

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