In Portland, Oregon, a trio of city councilors has put forward a proposal to use funds from the Portland Clean Energy Benefits Fund (PCEF) to prevent layoffs and maintain essential city services. Councilors Mitch Green, Candace Avalos, and Angelita Morillo introduced the ‘Services First Budget Amendment’ to leverage $16.5 million in PCEF interest and $4.8 million from other contingency funds to keep 103 city positions funded. The proposal will be considered by the full council on June 10.
Funding Allocation
The PCEF, a billion-dollar fund generated by a voter-approved 1% tax on large retailers, is intended for climate justice projects. However, the fund’s surplus has become a target for city officials facing budget shortfalls. The Services First proposal aims to pause a planned city core services realignment, which would have eliminated 46 full-time positions. Instead, $3.2 million from PCEF interest and $4.8 million from other funds would be used to retain these jobs.
Additional allocations include $1.65 million for Advanced Life Support teams, $3.45 million for 26 positions in the police bureau’s Public Safety Support Specialists, $302,000 for two positions in the Victim Services Unit, $6.12 million for 22 positions in Parks and Recreation, $261,000 for Relay Janitorial Services, $888,000 to restore six positions at 311, and $429,000 to fund a single position and establish the Office of Immigration Affairs.
Union Support and Opposition
The proposal has garnered support from several public sector unions, including AFSCME Local 189 and SEIU Local 49, who argue that the proposed core realignment would harm services and potentially increase costs. However, notable absences from the statement of support include the unions for Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau, despite the proposal’s impact on their budgets.
Mayor Keith Wilson’s budget proposal had previously suggested using $5.9 million from the PCEF for homeless camp cleanups, a move that faced opposition. The Portland Police Association is also advocating for a petition to redirect 25% of PCEF funds toward hiring more police officers, with efforts underway to gather signatures for a November ballot initiative.
Budgetary Challenges
Portland’s city council passed an $8.5 billion budget on May 21, following extensive debate. The Services First amendment represents a significant intervention, as councilors seek to address what they view as reckless cuts to public safety and frontline workers. Councilor Green emphasized the council’s responsibility to ensure wise spending, criticizing the allocation of funds to projects like Moda Center renovations without public input.
The amendment’s text has not been released, leaving some details unclear. However, the councilors’ initiative highlights ongoing tensions in balancing fiscal responsibility with maintaining essential city services.
Original reporting: KGW Portland — read the source article.
