Mayor Hales’ 2015-16 Budget: Focus on Basic Services, Public Safety, Kids

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Robby Davis, GolocalPDX Contributor

On Tuesday, Mayor Charlie Hales outlined a proposed budget for the 2015-2016 year, focusing on basic services, public safety and emergency preparedness, as well as additional resources for youth- especially youth at risk of becoming entagled in gang violence.

The budget was released in the wake of a five-year revenue forecast that will provide an estimated $49 million in additional general funds.

“In 2013, we had one of the worst shortfalls in city history. In 2014, we had a flat economy. And this year, we have a surplus,” said Mayor Hales. “That first year, my budget was about back-to-basics. The same was true the second year, and the same is true today. For a third year in a row, my budget reflects Portland’s values: investing in livable communities, investing in safe streets, and investing in our kids.”

The city projects $484.5 million in discretionary funds for next year with a total annual budget of more than $3.5 billion. The additional $49 million in discretionary funding came from the combination of the city’s thriving economy and City Council making smart financial decisions over the last two budgets. The Council also passed the first comprehensive review of Urban Renewal Areas, which improved this year's budget picture for Portland, Multnomah County, and the state’s Common School Fund, according to the Mayor's office.

Building on the goals of his prior two budgets, Mayor Hales is emphasizing major new efforts to repair city streets, provide more money for homeless services and affordable housing, and increase the amount of healthy extracurricular activities for Portland's youth.

Fixing the Streets

Ideally, Hales would like to invest $30.4 million into basic services. He is currently calling for around $20 million of that to go towards the streets of Portland. The proposed budget includes $8.89 million for paving, $6.89 million for street safety improvements, $1.5 million to help pave dirt streets and $19 million for other transportation projects that may arise.

“Portlanders asked us to focus on fixing our streets. I listened. This budget does that,” said Hales. “This won’t solve the city’s whole street problem. But I’m serious about addressing the problem.”

The other major investment that Hales would like to make into basic services is $5.97 million to address homelessness and affordable housing programs. This would be in addition to the more than $90 million already in the city’s budget, for a total of close to $100 million.

Public Safety and Police Relations

When it comes to public safety and emergency preparedness, Mayor Hales plans to move forward with the long-awaited renovation of the Portland Building. The total cost for the project is estimated to be around $175 million. The proposed budget currently includes $2.57 million for both planning funds for project design, and a 20-year financing plan.

Hales would also like to invest in an improved relationship between the Portland Police Bureau and the community. Some of these investments include programs that emphasize on targeting domestic violence, crime analysts, and coordinated efforts to address gang violence. He would also like to invest $500,000 in a psychiatric emergency service center that would give responders a safe alternative to jail, or an emergency room for those undergoing a mental health crisis.

Hales has also proposed that $1.38 million goes towards retaining 26 firefighter positions during the next fiscal year.

Portland's Youth

Hales' 2015-16 budget also places an emphasis on youth within the Portland area. The largest new initiative in the mayor’s budget is a $2 million parks program for kids. Ideally, the Mayor would like to open more of the city’s parks, gyms and pools for teenagers, free of charge. He’s currently pushing other agencies, such as Portland Community College, to do the same.

In this new proposal Hales calls for $960,000 for a youth bus program, $400,000 for “3 to PhD” program at Concordia University, $250,000 for parks for Portlanders program, $135,000 for summer interns, and $130,000 for Portland Community College’s Future Connect program. This would bring the total to $561,000.

“We have to give our young people safe options,” said Mayor Hales. “That includes sports and other recreation. It includes internships. It includes education and job opportunities. Throughout the city, schools, nonprofits and other governments are rallying behind this. So is the faith community. So is the business community. This is a city-wide initiative.”

Hales also plans to provide funding for a variety of programs that, he believes, reflects Portland’s values. He would like to invest $900,000 to increase wages to $15 an hour for many city employees, $300,000 for the East Portland Action Plan, $158,000 to convert seasonal workers to full-time status, as well as several other programs.

Finally, the Mayor is calling for $1.93 million to support security, public access and youth programs at the 2016 Indoor Track and Field events. This event is set to take place next March, and is expected to draw in audiences from around the world.

“Portland beat out cities throughout the world for this honor. The result will be an untold amount of good will and fun for our entire city,” said Hales. “This event puts Portland on a global stage, and I’m committed to being ready.”

The Mayor wanted his proposed budget to focus on his message of “taking care of what we have and investing in a better future.”

We’ll have to wait and see if all goes according to plan.