Mayor presents FY 2025–26 balanced budget proposal that prioritizes public safety, homelessness response and operational efficiencies

DCA Jonas Bieri and Mayor Keith Wilson presented the City of Portland’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and fielded questions from councilors about one‑time funding, program cuts and planned operational changes.

Bieri, deputy city administrator for budget, finance and chief financial officer, opened with high‑level figures and process context, saying the proposed citywide budget is “around 8,500,000,000.0” and that the general fund discretionary portion will be the focus of council deliberations. He noted the administration’s work to put forward a “balanced budget package” and directed the public to a newly posted, user‑friendly dashboard on the Proposed Budget section of the city website.

"I applaud the work the mayor has done to understand the wide range of city programs and budget details," Bieri said, thanking budget staff and bureau leaders for their work.

Mayor Keith Wilson summarized priorities in a statement included in the proposed document and described the plan as “balanced, forward looking, and a clear reaffirmation of our city's values and priorities.” He said the proposal targets public safety and basic services while also seeking to limit layoffs by using a mix of one‑time resources and phased structural changes.

Why it matters: Councilors pressed administration officials for line‑level detail because the proposal uses one‑time and external funding to cover recurring needs. Several council members asked for clear documentation of how a roughly $120 million shortfall identified earlier in the process was closed and where ongoing gaps remain.

Key details from the presentation and discussion

- The administration identified a multistep plan to realize a 20% reduction in certain enterprise spending over the year (a roughly 10% reduction expected in the current fiscal year and a 20% target by fiscal year end), with a stated emphasis on limiting immediate layoffs and “feathering in” changes to preserve service continuity.

- The proposed package identifies about $26,300,000 in general fund expense reductions and uses a combination of one‑time resources, outside commitments, and targeted reductions to produce a balanced proposal.

- The budget highlights that roughly 60% of general fund discretionary spending goes to public safety (police, fire, 911 and emergency management) and that community and economic development and the city administrator’s contingency/transfers are other large buckets of discretionary spending.

- The administration reported an approximate citywide net position change that includes a reduction of 186 FTE and an increase of 157 FTE across funds; bureau‑level and employee‑level impacts were described as still being worked through.

Council direction and next steps

Council took the presentation as the starting point for a series of amendments and budget notes. Several councilors signaled amendments or budget notes on parks maintenance, permitting capacity, the CEI (climate and environmental insurance) table, and targeted revenue or fee changes. The mayor and budget staff committed to provide line‑item backup and a detailed spend plan for shelter investments and other large, externally financed items.

Public materials and transparency

Bieri pointed attendees to the City Budget Office’s online dashboard for the proposed budget and asked the public and council to use it as a shared reference during deliberations. Councilors repeatedly requested spreadsheets and line‑by‑line documentation to track where reductions were made and how one‑time funds were applied.

Ending: Council recessed the session and scheduled additional work sessions; no formal vote on adoption occurred at this meeting.