An overwhelming majority of Portlanders are in favor of the city dipping into its lucrative climate program to help prop up its cash-strapped cops, firefighters and parks, according to a new poll commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Nearly two-thirds of city voters said they would support spending a portion of the dollars from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund that exceed what proponents initially projected it would generate to pay for core municipal services.
Since voters first approved the fund in 2018, it has transformed from a grassroots community effort expected to raise $30 million a year to a powerhouse funding mechanism that pumps out $200 million annually — a seven-fold increase…