Portland voters only have one decision to make in this Novemberâs special election and it should be a relatively easy one. But that doesnât mean this yearâs special election for a new Portland parks levy is without complexity. Weâll get to those nuances, but first, letâs be clear: the Mercury recommends voting âyesâ on the parks levy measure. The main reason to vote in favor? If the levy fails, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will face a roughly $90 million budget shortfall, forcing major layoffs and service cuts. Youâll likely see neighborhood parks deteriorate as trash collection and bathroom cleanup services are reduced. Community center programming will be slashed. A failure to pass the levy would have long-lasting and far-reaching impacts, putting particular strain on low-income Portlanders.Â
Portlanders approved the cityâs current parks levy in 2020, when the parks bureau was facing financial hardships made worse by the pandemic, which kept community centers and pools closed (and without user fee revenue) for months. The 2020 measure called for a five-year property tax rate of 80 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Revenue from the levy has helped fund crucial parks services since it was implemented, and a 2024 audit of the levyâs spending showed it lived up to its promises to voters. The new levy will set a property tax rate of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value to raise money for the cityâs parks system, and is expected to bring in $456 million over five years.Â
As the Mercury recently reported, the 2025 levy has received wide support, with notable backers including the Portland Metro Chamber, Portland Police Association, and the Democratic Socialists of America. The only major critique of the measure came from the Oregonian editorial board, which failed to endorse the levy, in part because the tax wonât make much of a dent in the parks bureauâs significant deferred maintenance needs. PP&Râs maintenance backlog, currently estimated around $500-$800 million, was also explored in a report recently released by the City Auditorâs Office. The report brings attention to the fiscal management missteps that led to the parks bureauâs deferred maintenance crisis, pointing out that PP&R has invested in new capital infrastructure without a plan to maintain existing assets. The auditorâs report offers valuable insights, but it doesnât say anything that justifies voting ânoâ on the levy.Â
Itâs true the new parks levy only dedicates $2 million annually to major capital maintenance projects, but the tax was never intended as a solution to the backlog. Besides, voting ânoâ wonât somehow conjure up revenue for the bureauâs major deferred maintenance projects. In fact, if the measure fails, PP&Râs maintenance backlog may get even bigger, alongside the general deterioration of the parks system.Â
At a time when families are struggling to afford the basics, the cityâs natural areas and neighborhood parks are an essential, free asset.Â
Still, while some of the naysayersâ conclusions about the levy are misguided, other reservations about the measure are valid. Right off the bat, a 75 percent increase to the current parks levy rate isnât trivial, especially considering the inequitable impacts of Oregonâs property tax system. The average Portland homeowner with an assessed home value of about $220,000 currently pays about $177 annually toward the parks levy. The new levy will cost the average homeowner roughly $310 per year.Â
However, with Portlandâs parks on the line, we think the extra money is worth it. But we want to see parks bureau leaders follow through on their promises, and develop more sustainable funding mechanisms to ensure the cityâs parks are supported for the long haul. Denying the city much-needed funding now will only make those promises more difficult to fulfill in the future.
The Mercury Election Strike Force is news editor Courtney Vaughn, reporter Taylor Griggs, and editor-in-chief Wm. Steven Humphrey.
