The Portland Metro Chamber, Portland Parks Foundation, and Portland Parks Alliance negotiated with the City of Portland on endorsing the Parks Levy at a rate of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Our Position on New and Increased Taxes
The Chamber strongly supports Governor Kotek’s and the Central City Task Force’s call for a moratorium on new and increased taxes through 2026. The Chamber has been opposed to new and increased taxes for over five years. However, our members have demonstrated a willingness to support minor tax increases for imperative services. We have supported every single tax renewal this decade, but we will not support new or increased taxes that cannot be justified, dig the region in a deeper economic hole, or are obviously unsustainable in the face of predictable fiscal challenges.
Why This Matters to Portland’s Economic Future
From the start, our goal has been to reach an agreement with respect to the levy that ensures fiscal accountability and protects the investments that keep Portland economically competitive, especially in regard to funding for public safety. The Chamber has been open from the beginning to a potential Parks Levy increase that is focused on funding park maintenance, safety, cleanliness, and the modernization of park operations.
The Chamber’s Position
The Chamber agreed to endorse the Parks Levy rate increase of $1.40, from the existing $0.80 rate, having received the following commitments from the City of Portland:
- The levy will fund one position dedicated to expanding the public-private operating model Downtown Portland Clean & Safe has piloted with major success at Director Park.
- An allocated $0.03 for deferred maintenance will be used to repair bathrooms, and 50% of Portland Parks & Recreation’s ending fund balance will go toward a maintenance fund.
- Portland Parks & Recreation will commit to developing concrete performance metrics to measure progress.
- The City of Portland committed to not making any cuts to funding for public safety in the 2025-2026 budget.
The City of Portland’s posted resolution makes these commitments clear.