Portlanders appeared poised Tuesday to approve a ballot measure to significantly increase money collected from property owners to maintain existing parks and recreation services.
Measure 26-260 had garnered about 53% of the vote in partial returns tallied as of 8 p.m.
The proposal, crafted and referred by city leaders, presented voters with a stark and, for some, an exasperating choice: hike Portland’s current parks levy by 75%, or watch one of the city’s most treasured civic assets wither under severe budget cuts and the ensuing neglect…