Portland council to refer $1.40 parks levy to voters after debate over maintenance and oversight

The Portland City Council voted to refer a five‑year local option tax levy for parks to voters in November, approving the measure as amended by an 11‑0 roll call. The levy would raise $1.40 per $1,000 in assessed value — $1.37 dedicated to parks operations and 3¢ set aside for capital maintenance — and includes new oversight and reporting requirements the council added during a three‑hour special session on July 16.

The levy is intended to sustain current Portland Parks and Recreation operations, keep community centers and recreation programs open, fund daily cleanup and maintenance, and pay for small, targeted capital maintenance such as repairs to bathrooms and playgrounds. "It will fund daily cleanup and maintenance of our parks, small but high impact fixes to park amenities, and our park ranger program to keep these shared spaces healthy, safe, and welcoming," said Sonia Szymanski, acting director of Portland Parks and Recreation.

Why it matters: Council members and bureau leaders said the levy is aimed at avoiding deeper cuts to services after the bureau faced budget reductions this year and to begin addressing a cited capital maintenance backlog the bureau has estimated at roughly $600 million. Supporters say the levy preserves widely used programs such as Summer Free for All and lunch‑and‑play offerings; opponents said voters deserve clearer detail on what the measure will accomplish and worry…