[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6560638,"mediaKeyId","3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c","parentId",3312512,"title","Arts and Culture office, spectator venues report shifting fund balances and a technical cut to correct","audioSeconds",304,"startMs",3195000,"endMs",3499000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c&start=3195&end=3499","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6560638/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Arts-and-Culture-office-spectator-venues-report-shifting-fund-balances-and-a-technical-cut-to-correct","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560638-3291277b0e6101cc3bf935aa2b2e1975/orig.mp4?Expires=1770665836&Signature=a~EdUsg~rJ1srpsJt3tWm4oAuU6Ip9PjHtx4ODNLGatu6bTfkXUsERjbzQqorwqEptqZzjmzeJ~T1~iyTj3t8k~FDC53da516VkqLVbwfr8KLwgzo9IbGjqNKco~s9r8Fkwu8WplJGCEw4puO3OImUsC04zIYNkM~AC9Yeqjqm8MMuhxNfA27k5qYcH0JFEfdw0~YGoHbYmFFrr5RHy21M1J-t-N0MDI0D1hUUGaI216XhWTkne3Ka2kW~R0-Oo-Jmd9OCAQBKBAPnSwrbDhXbEEbs6PeZiPBIoQrJs4aTc~bDQfPX9Z9LjVB-be9WemYTWN-4sX~QPqK2wrH1wdbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-05-15T01:10:57Z","article","City officials briefed councilors on the budgets for spectator venues and the newly formed Office of Arts and Culture, noting the financial impacts of one-time projects and an accounting error in the mayor's proposed cuts.

Donnie Olivera and Shay Flerty Bettine explained that the spectator-venues fund is unusually large in FY24-25 because it includes proceeds and beginning balances tied to a $54 million bond issuance for Veterans Memorial Coliseum renovations. Olivera said the bond's annual debt service is paid from a dedicated Multnomah County visitor facilities trust account and that the project is expected to be completed by the end of FY25-26.

Charity Montes, director of the Office of Arts and Culture, described the office's revenue mix and its staffing. She said the office has six FTE and administers grants, public art and arts education. Montes noted a discrepancy in the proposed budget's beginning fund balance for the arts access and percent-for-art funds: the revised FY24-25 budget shows $3.5 million in expected arts access fund disbursements but actual receipts were $2.1 million, producing a beginning fund-balance variance that Montes said will be corrected in the adopted budget or fall bump.

Montes also said the mayor's proposed 8% general-fund reduction was accidentally applied twice in the draft and necessitates a technical fix. \"That should actually be 1,400,000 less for a total of 2,200,000,\" she said of the beginning fund balance note; she asked council to correct the item during adoption.

Other points: The spectator venues program receives revenue from ticket fees and regional tourism allocations and does not rely on general-fund support; many contracting and renovation costs are financed externally for the VMC project. The Arts and Culture office said it will proceed with hiring a new public-art administrator and focus on percent-for-art improvements and grants management while adjusting for lower arts-access fund estimates.

Bottom line: Councilors were warned that FY24-25 figures include large one-time capital financing for VMC; arts staff asked for a technical correction to reverse an accidental double cut to general-fund support for arts grants and maintenance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council Work Session - Budget Committee 05/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","City officials said oversight of large spectator venues and the newly formed Office of Arts and Culture will manage a temporary elevated fund balance while the Veterans Memorial Coliseum renovation completes; the Office of Arts and Culture flagged a technical error in the mayor's proposed general-fund cut.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560643,"Council debates whether to use Prosper Portland's Strategic Investment Fund to backfill general-fund cuts",7114,2562000,9676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c&start=2562&end=9676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c/thumbnail_2562000.jpg","/articles/6560643/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-debates-whether-to-use-Prosper-Portlands-Strategic-Investment-Fund-to-backfill-general-fund-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560643-96fdf7fa108bf37f45a43a81f44a2725/orig.mp4?Expires=1770665836&Signature=MOJNrtClgyttp2jIhMtBXYhitcWvsnREBP7CoOfl~-wsUDeQVvtrmcVBGIn937kpdqKMIJeBYq5J-1mnmmGDfy-HziH-KK9QEGsCj-k~M4~tsLGr-6f4tR46h~z~QPRgQlcL-NyO6MvJvC1Pel39~qSPLoGu3MsIR7oLZR4b7iZzRxjCvzgBXmx3~XKNSHu~lP0Do1-560yBIlbYj7kD8NFFsNx-GMUOQ0vNy4hyAxFVYuCjA1At57tJVvwTwk3YwMjBp4cLxwVMMbnP0abJlkFOWEtkaGu~nOyYYizpr~rlcK~mGnvPFAY-SRcR7YBpNEGssmRy1mN6rYt88D3~hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prosper Portland staff and City Councilors engaged in an extended budget discussion about the agency's financial posture and whether the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) should be used to replace general-fund reductions to economic-development programs.

Shay Flerty Bettine, interim executive director of Prosper Portland, said the agency has used an arm's-length structure to deliver real estate and lending tools, and that SIF is intended as a revolving loan corpus to create citywide capital that TIF can't. \"One of the benefits of having a quasi governmental agency... is that we do manage our own systems, which means having our own procurement, our own specialized legal team that specializes in real estate transactions and business lending,\" she said.

Councilors pressed the agency over SIF balances and recent growth in non-TIF funding sources. Tony Barnes, Prosper CFO, said about $10 million in loan commitments had been made from SIF in the prior year and that the fund's beginning balance and spend profile have shifted as projects close.

Several councilors proposed amendments or asked staff whether SIF could be repurposed to backfill general-fund reductions affecting small-business supports, events, workforce development, and district supports. Councilor Greene said she planned an amendment that would reduce Prosper general-fund allocations while directing a SIF transfer to make those programs whole at FY24-25 levels; she framed the move as aligning with Advance Portland priorities to center BIPOC communities. Council members and Prosper staff debated whether council direction to use SIF would be advisory to Prosper's board or a direct budget action; staff noted council has formal authority over the budget committee process, while board-level policy governs SIF deployment and required returns.

Small-business programs and grants were a central issue. Councilors described the repair-and-restore grants, Reimagine Oregon cannabis-derived small-business funds, and the Inclusive Business Resource Network as high priorities. Prosper leaders said the agency moved quickly to deploy a one-time $7.0 million round of Reimagine funds and that ongoing reimagine funding is targeted to about $1.3 million in the coming year. Councilors and Prosper CFO agreed to provide line-by-line detail to help council consider narrower choices.

Bottom line: The work session concluded with councilors signalling several planned amendments: some to restore repair-and-restore and event stabilization grants with one-time funds, and one notable proposed amendment to use SIF transfers to make Prosper's general fund whole. Prosper leaders warned that rapid spend-downs of SIF would undermine the fund's revolving purpose and long-term returns; councilors said they will evaluate targeted transfers and expect follow-up analyses.","Councilors and Prosper Portland leaders debated using the agency's Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) to offset general-fund reductions to Prosper programs. Prosper leaders defended SIF as a revolving loan corpus intended to generate returns; some councilors proposed targeted transfers to preserve small-business and district programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560647,"BPS explains climate fund structure as council presses on $100 million reserve idea",3472,1204000,4676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c&start=1204&end=4676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c/thumbnail_1204000.jpg","/articles/6560647/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/BPS-explains-climate-fund-structure-as-council-presses-on-100-million-reserve-idea","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560647-bac932c0bc1a9b26ddf799b9dd12e42b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770665836&Signature=VabFI4uHwxXzPexpNjPzf3XfrVWRn~rmrgtmWoskdDFp7xmKMGuDMjVcpWJdD1oXgiA6vPRmYNIVN3D5dYFLzWPOSdWcx8PVJdWQC0u2pBIQ0823fMLg5qXp12IgBjorWbYF8l32ZdTcs8iLQXEfWpPdptyk5UMzQ-~jVVPWHulJ2MTpnJ1OugFaPiQAiXht69-V8st9WIxgggyNQZcqI52569PJspkmGaVOfMrT8pbJAs0tHpvvzOypUA-UlPHBhBilWkPEBej9BOV9-tX4rb27JNiHVIajiDhtG2wI~XL9ld5GI83ykUCXv1HhieX74qx3SBiVmr4ykhn-CXcYEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Director Eric Kingstrom briefed councilors on the bureau's FY25-26 budget and on the citywide Portland Clean Energy Fund (PSEF) allocations under the Climate Investment Plan (CIP).

Kingstrom said the PSEF budget is structured as a multi-year plan with two broad buckets: ongoing administrative costs and program spending directed by the CIP. \"The main point here is that, the fund balance is fairly large still because for the first several years, we were in startup mode,\" he said, adding the CIP runs through 2029.

Council debate focused on reserves and contingency. Councilor Nick Novick asked why staff were proposing a roughly $100 million contingency for PSEF; he called that level \"aggressive\" compared with other city reserve policies. Kingstrom and other staff answered that planners aim to avoid a situation where multi-year commitments exist on paper but revenue falls short and promised grants or contracts cannot be funded when the time comes. \"That's the rationale,\" Kingstrom said, describing the desire to avoid having to rescind previously promised grants or contracts.

Kingstrom also noted some administration functions have shifted since earlier budgets: climate leadership responsibility is moving into the city administrator's office, while BPS retains some administration and program management roles. He highlighted that most PSEF revenue is restricted to specific uses and that BPS is moving some program money into other bureaus to deliver projects.

Other items covered in BPS's presentation included solid waste and recycling programs, graffiti abatement funded by a mix of general fund and one-time money, and community technology programs that receive IGA revenue from the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission.

Councilors signaled interest in a citywide review of reserve policies and in more explicit council oversight of PSEF allocations; staff noted the CIP is amended annually and that council retains formal authority over the budget and any future CIP amendments.

Bottom line: BPS urged caution in spending multi-year PSEF commitments so the city can sustain large programs over five years, while councilors pushed for clearer governance and a review of reserve policy and the degree of council oversight.","Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff described the multi-year Climate Investment Plan (CIP) and the Portland Clean Energy Fund's (PSEF) five-year commitments. Councilors pressed bureau staff on the size of PSEF reserves and how contingency planning will be used to protect multi-year commitments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560651,"Housing bureau outlines $243 million budget; proposes pilot, cuts to down-payment and repair programs",785,414000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c&start=414&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c/thumbnail_414000.jpg","/articles/6560651/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Housing-bureau-outlines-243-million-budget-proposes-pilot-cuts-to-down-payment-and-repair-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560651-a1dcab411f8b0d07c96f3d12d0076c63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770665836&Signature=VrxJOPWExWVn9~KGuCzRFxogvcdFELHqccye1hHP7C-ILlSAbxePdPKPHm58-AANcSpFU9pjqy1x4z-aGc~8Y~Uxp62XiyE8kwTlp8LIvqzhmZrZ8CrhNg8oHrDlJt7V0tUlutXY57GIgjutr-sPF5z3dZD8nfgHRo0KxtHgjSrFh7~Jlv6jJii4fz8EED7n~EL9H91wjPEZVbHhQgLCYVv7pFV0VVocuwjS0LYm5qAlgY655SkKizM7YXCdYtF2aAQNBjvyCJ8kf6uURPiSyMwsRQWeakr0sb3F5tAs2PoMn0cZYnZnJcp3Quw~e5UND4V-cHIazBmKKYtcvY8rCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland Housing Bureau Director Helmi Hysorek presented a high-level overview of the bureau's proposed FY25-26 budget to the City Council and said the bureau expects to spend about $243 million next fiscal year.

\"The Portland Housing Bureau in fiscal year 25-26 has a $243,000,000 budget and 89 staff,\" Hysorek said. She said the proposed budget includes about $14.7 million for personnel, $24.8 million that will pass through to the Joint Office for homeless services, and approximately $203 million for affordable housing programs and capital.

Hysorek told council that the bureau received confirmation of its HUD federal entitlement at about $14.2 million, a roughly 1% reduction from prior years, and that a federal pro-housing grant had been approved. \"We learned prior to coming here that our federal entitlement funds have been confirmed at 14,200,000.0, which is a 1% reduction from prior years,\" she said.

Decision packages and program changes: Hysorek reviewed proposed programmatic adjustments. The bureau proposes a home-share pilot targeted at lower-cost housing options, with particular attention to seniors, but said program design is not yet final. To meet budget reductions, PHB proposes cutting the down-payment assistance loan program by $400,000, which the bureau estimates would reduce supports by roughly three to five loans. The bureau also proposed a reduction to locally funded home repair grants that currently prevent displacement for low-income homeowners by supporting 10 to 20 units.

Hysorek emphasized that some reductions are to pass-through funds and that PHB does not control spending decisions for those pass-throughs. She noted the Joint Office passthrough to the county is proposed to decline by $1.6 million ongoing (about 5%) and $4.8 million one-time in the mayor's proposal; those amounts are budgeted as pass-throughs and the bureau said it is not the primary decision-maker for the Joint Office funds.

Anticipated outcomes: The bureau said it anticipates more than 600 new rental homes opened, preservation of about 50 affordable units through repair programs, approximately 400 new affordable homes for sale through homeownership programs, and expanded rental management and homeowner repair supports. Hysorek said multifamily development continues to be the largest spending line and is funded by a mix of TIF, housing bonds, PSF and federal grants.

What councilors asked: Councilors raised questions about eviction legal-defense funding; Councilor Greene praised a mayoral restoration of a proposed $400,000 cut to eviction legal defense but asked whether the restored amount meets demand. PHB replied the need exceeds current funding and that county funding coordination remains uncertain.

Bottom line: PHB said it is balancing federal and local funds, rolling down capital resources, and proposing targeted pilot programs and modest program cuts to meet a 1% bureau-reduction target. Directors emphasized federal entitlement confirmation and the new pro-housing grant as stabilizing elements for some program lines.","Portland Housing Bureau Director Helmi Hysorek told council the bureau's FY25-26 budget totals about $243 million, highlighted a newly confirmed HUD entitlement, proposed a home-share pilot, and described cuts to down-payment assistance and home repair grants as part of a 1% bureau cut and joint-office pass-through reductions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560656,"Portland Permitting and Development warns proposed cuts would sharply slow permitting and inspections",678,1886000,2564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c&start=1886&end=2564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312512-0080da51c71c9119e27d05abd928498c/thumbnail_1886000.jpg","/articles/6560656/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-Permitting-and-Development-warns-proposed-cuts-would-sharply-slow-permitting-and-inspections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560656-e6becd7480482aaf1fc6df1b0ca09e36/orig.mp4?Expires=1770665836&Signature=Oiwst6XjRXiJ63rZzdsEHNCachs3c8hblCS18IAmo4528PsW2CHQRS5hPnWdzKFqOvsAyd--51zmSxuGmguWVNO2WRfLRR8MZZ5vKKNNOawKXxm7LjOE69BrLmd7S7Nt85WBQLyCrHVHhBonMOzlFJVTkl9Qmd-HXlLU1EOo6pE9jGHvlJ-4Kizhy7mnGzxattpgEQLlu0RRdZidQWHGvqRyoy3brCuty1~nokth2ivhz-w6tsjEC9rk7yC-eK6Ccc7WktaTfoKO6IQTFooIafEPAkhLbjJPQnus6DHZypogmIwN3HkyQAI62EDDeCMr-6S534Ly2nRSKQn5ZnasOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland Permitting and Development (PPD) leaders told the City Council at a May work session that the bureau faces a structural funding problem and that a proposed round of staffing cuts would substantially slow permitting and inspections.

\"The revenue growth is projected to be flat for the coming fiscal year, 25-26,\" David Tienhausen, interim director of Portland Permitting and Development, said. He and other PPD witnesses said the bureau is primarily funded by fees and charges for services and has little ongoing general-fund support.

The council heard that the mayor's proposed budget would eliminate 53 filled positions and 12 vacancies in PPD, following earlier reductions. Tienhausen said the bureau previously reduced its workforce by about 74 FTE and took another round of cuts in January 2024. \"Those impacts, of the layoffs left the bureau with insufficient staff,\" he said, describing a pattern of staffing reductions tied to swings in construction activity.

Why it matters: PPD reviews and inspects tens of thousands of permit actions each year. The bureau told councilors it performs plan reviews, issues permits, conducts more than 500 inspections per day across multiple permit types and fields roughly 38,000 customer phone calls annually. Staff and councilors warned that cuts now would leave the city short-staffed if permitting activity rebounded, and rebuilding capacity would take time.

Details from the presentation: PPD reported roughly $77.5 million in projected revenue for fiscal 24-25 and a modest increase to about $80 million for 25-26, driven partly by a proposed 5% fee increase. Tienhausen said the 53-FTE reduction is proposed as part of two cut packages to close an approximately $14 million forecast gap. \"Every $1,000,000 in additional funding equates to about 5 to 6 FTE,\" he told councilors.

Councilors pressed several operational and policy points: they asked whether revenue projections reflect new housing pushes or mayoral initiatives; Tienhausen replied they do not. Councilors also pressed whether the fee model is sustainable and urged a study of alternatives. \"Revenue stable funding source: we're gonna find ourselves in the current situation every couple years,\" he said, and described the need for a new funding model.

What council asked staff to do: Discussion at the work session focused on preserving core capacity and on whether to restore some positions or hold contingency funds to rehire quickly if development activity returns. Several councilors said they plan amendments or budget notes to explore options to avoid long-lived service interruptions.

Bottom line: PPD leaders say the bureau is highly sensitive to construction market fluctuations, that recent staffing reductions already strained capacity, and that the proposed further cuts would lengthen timelines and raise costs for developers and the public. Councilors signaled they will weigh restoring funding or adding short-term contingency to avoid losing institutional capacity.

","Interim PPD leadership told council that the bureau's fee-funded model and a proposed cut of 53 filled positions would materially slow permit reviews and inspections and risk longer delays if building activity rebounds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Arts and Culture office, spectator venues report shifting fund balances and a technical cut to correct

Council debates whether to use Prosper Portland's Strategic Investment Fund to backfill general-fund cuts

BPS explains climate fund structure as council presses on $100 million reserve idea

Housing bureau outlines $243 million budget; proposes pilot, cuts to down-payment and repair programs

Portland Permitting and Development warns proposed cuts would sharply slow permitting and inspections