If Mayor Tom Potter had a thumbtack and a bulletin board,
this stage of the city’s budget process would be exactly like the high
school drama department’s spring musical auditions—with hopeful
city commissioners counting down the hours until Potter’s budget
decisions are posted. Some of the commissioners’ proposals will make
the cut, while others will have to try again next year.

Potter broke the news to the commissioners—each of whom has
had their eye on a certain role… er, bureau funding request—on
Monday night, April 14. He had $33 million in extra general fund
revenue to dole out, and this year, Commissioner Dan Saltzman scored
the lead role: His “One-Stop Domestic Violence Center” proposal
is funded to the tune of $1.5 million, plus nearly half a million in
ongoing annual funds. Considering the fact that helping domestic
violence victims is more of a county job, Saltzman deserves a standing
ovation for convincing Potter to open the city’s wallet. (He also got
$2.7 million to retire the Parks Levy, so it doesn’t have to go to back
to voters.)

Not surprisingly, Potter nearly cut Commissioner Sam Adams from the
budget entirely, relegating him to a bit part. (Take that, Adams!
That’ll show you not to upstage the director by doing crazy
things like, oh, trying to accomplish anything relevant during your
tenure.) Though Adams had asked for $4 million to get started on
projects related to his Safe, Sound, and Green Streets
proposal—things like rehabbing SE Hawthorne and further funding
the Safe Routes to School program (the sort of safety and basic
infrastructure things Potter expressed support for just last week, when
questioning Adams’ funding priorities)—Potter gave him
zilch, and also axed all the arts and culture requests. Instead,
the mayor’s budget proposal funds four of Adams’ 12 other Portland
Department of Transportation requests, tossed in another $800,000 to
fill a budget shortfall, for a total of $3.5 million. Potter made a
point of highlighting $1.6 million in funds for a project he did deem
worthy: Sidewalks along NE Cully.

Former Commissioner Erik Sten may have dropped out before
callbacks, but Potter is still tossing $6.5 million toward things
like the Schools, Families, and Housing initiative and the 10-Year Plan
to End Homelessness. And Commissioner Randy Leonard scored a quarter
million bucks for two 24-hour restrooms in Old Town.

But Potter—as the director of this production—really
made himself the star. From nearly $300,000 for his SAFE
committee, to almost $5 million to begin replacing the outdated 911
communications system, nearly half of the $33 million went to projects
in Potter’s portfolio.

But unlike the time the director didn’t cast you in your school’s
revival of Sound of Music—and didn’t entertain your stage
mom’s protests—these decisions aren’t final. Following a few
public hearings—and possible political wrangling—the
council will vote on the budget in June.