PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Trouble is brewing for the $8 billion budget proposal Portland Mayor Keith Wilson intends to officially submit on Wednesday. City councilors made it abundantly clear they intend to make changes.
Several councilors are not happy with the proposed cuts, especially to maintenance of the city’s nearly 300 parks. Some told KOIN 6 News they don’t want to approve one-time money for programs like overnight homeless shelters and then be stuck figuring out how to pay for them long-term.
They do agree with Wilson on preserving money for public safety by adding millions of dollars to police and fire, expanding graffiti removal, removing abandoned cars and RVs and filling potholes.
Mayor’s Portland budget: ‘Back to basics,’ ‘no easy answers’
But questions about increasing fees for park activities, permitting, parking, water and sewer bill increases and cutting dozens of maintenance jobs at parks are all on the table…