Mayor Wilson Makes First Budget Proposal:
"Portland Will Experience Layoffs"

     On Wednesday Mayor Keith Wilson laid out his FY 2025-26budget proposal. This proposal is a first for the new city government, which had recently finished its transition to a mayor-council form back in January. The fiscal plan seeks to address a $93 million shortfall by slashing core city-services by 20% while also seeking to expand alternative forms of revenue such as an increased parking fees and transportation fares.

     The proposal was met with both praise and criticism. The controversy revolving the reduction of city services while at the same time increasing funding for the Portland Police Bureau. Mayor Wilson would go onto mention that his proposal would regrettably result in layoffs.

City Council Weighs In

     The historic city-council was then each given a short time to make comments and preliminary amendments ahead of their May 16th deadline.

     Councilor Olivia Clark lauded the plan as "Keeping the police department whole" however, it found much more scrutiny among the other councilors.

    Such as Steve Novick who appeared skeptical of the core rhetoric around the budget asking "What non-basic things are we doing?"

     Councilor Novick would then add that he would "will continue to push for a far more aggressive amendment.

Councilor Avalos described the core service cuts as a "sledgehammer approach that always makes a deeper cut." A sentiment that would be repeated by Sameer Kanal, opposing what he called a "One Size Fits All" policy.

Kanal also joined Councilor Dunphy in criticizing the outsourcing of city services to the private sector.

     Councilor Green voiced concerns around the cuts to Parks and Recreation as well as the total decrease of union represented Full-time Equivalents and an increase in non-union FTEs.

     Tenant rights were also a priority for Green, adding an amendment that called for a one-time rent subsidy for vulnerable renters in his area.

The Public's Testimony

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     City Council were not the only ones who made their voices heard Wednesday evening; various interest groups, businesses and independent people were also given an opportunity to speak.

Both the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the City of Portland Professional Workers Union (CPPW) made a prominent showing during the open testimony phase of the meeting.

     The sweeping 20% cuts to core city services, the proposed increases to the PPB budget and CPPW contract negotations were the most pressing issues of the evening.

     The potential increase of police funding to historical highs brought heavy debate and controversy.

     Despite a majority of people agreeing that strong community programs were essential to addressing Portland's social issues, there was a divide around the role of police in that process

     This split was not even however:
Among those who mentioned police in their testimony 68% felt the funding increase was a step in the wrong direction.

Esi, a representative with Critical Resistance Portland, called the $318 million police budget as "way too high" and would go onto add that "It's outrageous to continue to invest in policing instead of investing in programs and solutions that address the root causes of homelessness, violence and harm in our communities."

     Esi, like many other Portlanders came to urge the Mayor to revise the budget plan in order divert the potential increase in PPB funds towards community programs that aim to meet Portlanders basic needs.
Such as housing, food and healthcare.

"Reactive and downstream tactics have failed. Its a needlessly expensive response"
- Andrea G, a concerned Portlander in regards to the proposed PPB budget.

The CPPW, a union representing over 800 city workers, had an overwhelmingly large turnout for the meeting. The workers came to urge their vital importance to Portland's functions, aswell as to urge the city to fairly negioate a contract with the union.
Many members criticized the city government for "waiting for the last moment before a strike" to negioate.

The CPPW almost unanimously denounced the broad cuts to city services, one member going as far as to call the plan "PDX DOGE" likening the budget to Elon Musk's gutting of Federal Services.

"If we strike the city will be in violation."
     - Anette Rameriz, a CPPW worker during her testimony.

     This budget is far from finalized, it still has to go through an extensive amendment process by City Council before their final vote on July 1st. Until then many city workers live in uncertainty, unsure how deep these layoffs will run and whose jobs specifically is on the chopping block.