Councilor Morillo Proposes Budget Amendments to Preserve Community Safety Programs and Frontline City Jobs

Councilor Morillo has introduced two budget amendments to preserve essential community safety programs and protect frontline city workers from proposed budget cuts. 

The first proposal, Morillo 1, would reallocate $2.5 million from expanded council security to community-based public safety and prevention programs.

"Public safety works when we invest in preventative infrastructure," said Councilor Morillo. "It means ensuring people have food security, access to trusted responders, safe parks for kids, violence prevention programs, and timely behavioral health support. These investments prevent harm before it happens and strengthen our communities." 

The amendment would preserve funding for: 

• Portland Parks Summer Free Lunch Program - $211,000
• Portland Street Response (PSR) - $659,274 and 4.0 FTE
• Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT) - $500,000 and 3.0 FTE
• Office of Violence Prevention & Ceasefire - $1,143, 726

This proposal reallocates funds in excess of last year's city council security budget and maintains security assessments, escorts, and travel support for elected officials in the presence of credible threats.

"These programs deploy trusted community members and appropriate responders to lower-acuity medical, behavioral health, and violence prevention situations, "Morillo said. "That is a smarter and more effective public safety strategy." 

Councilor Morillo ‘s Morillo-Green-Novick 1 amendment will pause the elimination of 46 frontline city worker positions for one year, while the city conducts a worker's focused review. 

The city's proposed core realignment plan would eliminate 46 non-manager/supervisor frontline positions across several bureaus. Morillo-Green-Novick 1 would allocate $3.25 million from the existing $8.4 million Business License Tax reserve to temporarily preserve these positions. 

"These are the workers who keep our city functioning every day," said Morillo. "Leadership should pause, listen to workers, and ensure that eliminating positions does not create internal failures or reduce essential services." 

The amendment would: 

• Pause the elimination of 46 frontline positions for one year.
• Use existing reserve funds to maintain staffing.
• Establish a worker-centered review process before implementing permanent reductions. 

Both amendments introduced by Councilor Morillo will be public at 5:00 pm Friday. The amendments will begin to be heard on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

Media Contact:

Amane Badhasso, Communications Advisor, Office of Councilor Angelita Morillo

(971)-513-6927

Amane.Badhasso@portlandoregon.gov