Prosper Portland presents FY26 proposed budget as community groups urge continued general‑fund support

Prosper Portland presented its proposed fiscal-year 2025–26 budget to City Council sitting as Prosper’s budget committee and outlined priorities that include continuing tax-increment financing (TIF) projects, a growing Strategic Investment Fund for lending, citywide small-business supports and workforce programs.

Board Chair Gustavo Cruz and interim executive director Shay Flaherty Bettine opened the presentation on May 20 and thanked community partners and the agency’s volunteer board. Tony Barnes, Prosper’s chief financial officer, laid out the agency’s calendar and explained the budget timeline: Prosper’s board approved a draft in January; outreach and stakeholder engagement continued through April; council was being asked to receive the proposed budget as the budget committee and final action by the board would follow tax‑supervising review.

Prosper’s proposed total resources totaled approximately $189 million in the documents presented, and about $153 million after removing the affordable‐housing set‑aside allocation — figures the agency said reflect multi‑year capital projects and funds that are carried from year to year for active redevelopment work. Tony Barnes described a multi‑year forecast showing active and sunsetting TIF districts with significant remaining resources, and six newly authorized TIF…