2025-269

TO THE COUNCIL:

In November 2012, Portland voters approved Measure 26-146, establishing a $35 income tax to support arts education and access in the City of Portland. This tax funds arts teachers for all K-5 students, provides grants for arts organizations, and supports programs ensuring arts access for K-12 students and underserved communities.  

The Arts Access Fund is a collaborative effort among Portland's residents, the City, local school districts, and grant-receiving organizations. The City manages the collection and allocation of the tax, distributing funds to school districts and arts organizations in accordance with City Code and Administrative Rule provisions.  

The Arts Access Fund Oversight Committee (AOC) is responsible for reviewing expenditures, tracking progress, and assessing outcomes of the fund. The AOC reports its findings annually to the City Council. Portland City Code includes a provision for one Tax Supervising & Conservation Commission (TSCC) appointee to the AOC.  

Biography

Matt Donahue is a Managing Director in Public Finance at Mesirow. He is based in Portland, Oregon and works with state and local governments in the pacific northwest to finance crucial infrastructure projects. 
  
Matt has worked in the pacific northwest for 14 years and led over 200 government financings as investment banker, municipal advisor, or placement agent. After working in education for a decade, he began his public finance career as a manager in the State of New Jersey’s Office of Public Finance. 
  
Matt is active in the Portland community as vice-chair of the Multnomah County Tax Supervisory and Conservation Commission. In 2012, he was a summer fellow at the Gates Foundation in their U.S. education and in 2013-14 chaired the Governor’s Task Force on School Capital Planning. He also volunteers locally and serves as a board member for 501©-3 non-profits as well as being an active musician. 
  
Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in Afro-American Studies from Harvard College and a Master’s of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management. 

Statement of Interest

As a commissioner on the TSCC, I am interested in being its representative on the Arts Access Fund Oversight because of my love of music and the arts. I am a parent of two daughters who have gone to Portland Public Schools and have seen first-hand the effect that having a full-time arts teacher in their schools. I also am an active musician in my free time and greatly value the community of musicians and performers in Portland and what great impact that Arts Tax funds can have for working musicians. The position on the Arts Access Fund Oversight Committee combines my commitment to good governance and oversight over governmental spending and my passion and admiration for artists and musicians.