Portland council denies cost‑sharing interlocal with Gregory‑Portland ISD over police‑driveway costs

The Portland City Council on Dec. 17 voted to deny a proposed interlocal agreement with Gregory‑Portland ISD that would have shared the cost of a required driveway adjacent to the police department tied to the new T.M. Clark Elementary School.

City staff said an additional exit behind the police department is the safest option to separate emergency vehicle egress from student arrival and dismissal activity. Staff described the driveway as necessary for the school project’s safe operation, but noted the item had not been budgeted by the city and that the district considered the driveway off‑site.

Council members debated who should shoulder construction costs. Several argued the driveway is intrinsically part of the school project and therefore a district responsibility; others raised the revenue and tax‑base differences between the city and the county and said the proposal would shift burden to residential taxpayers.

"Because of the way school funding works, the school district is property rich and operationally poor... This ask does not do that and so consequently, I can't support sharing the cost on the infrastructure because it puts a bigger burden on our residential taxpayers," one council member said, summarizing concerns over tax shifts. The mayor framed the issue as a public‑safety problem that the city and district must resolve, but the council opted not to accept the district’s proposed cost split that night.

A motion to deny the interlocal was made and seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. Council directed staff to continue discussions with GPISD to identify a solution that addresses the safety issues without unduly shifting costs to city residents.

The denial does not foreclose future cooperation: the council asked the city manager and school officials to talk further and seek alternatives before the district moves forward with final permit applications.