(Portland, OR) –
As part of the 2020 Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy) requirements and promises to voters, Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) committed to facilitating an independent performance audit of the Parks Levy. The audit was completed by Sjoberk Evashenk Consulting, Inc. in December 2024. The consultants’ report (portland.gov/parks/parks-levy-audit-2024) stated that that Parks Levy funds were used for their intended purposes and PP&R has good tracking and financial systems in place. The audit further shows that Portlanders are receiving services they voted for, and that PP&R is transparently and accurately accounting for every Parks Levy dollar spent.
The Parks Levy is allowing PP&R to perform basic maintenance for natural areas and neighborhood parks, provide free and low-cost programming, and for the first time, proactively care for Portland’s park trees.
“The Parks Levy is a crucial source of operating funding for the bureau to deliver critical services for the Portland community,” says PP&R Director Adena Long. “Portland Parks & Recreation celebrates the impact of Parks Levy funds, which have increased the daily care and maintenance of parks and PP&R facilities. The funds added the capacity and support needed to remove litter and waste, clean restrooms, maintain sports fields and courts, playgrounds and landscaping, and improve the health of Portland’s natural areas.”
With the Parks Levy, PP&R has reduced cost as a barrier to participating in programs. In its third year, the Parks Levy provided $4.17 million in financial assistance (over 600% more than prior to the Parks Levy), to nearly 18,000 people. New PP&R initiatives such as Schools to Pools, Community Partnership Program grants, and the Park Tree Maintenance Plan would not be possible without the Parks Levy. Read more about Parks Levy impact in the Year 3 Annual Report.
“Responsible stewardship of this valuable revenue stream is essential to connecting Portlanders with accessible programs and clean and safe park spaces,” adds Director Long.
Per the ballot language, the Parks Levy Oversight Committee (PLOC) also reviews levy expenditures and advises on fiscal accountability, transparency, and adherence to ballot language.
“The PLOC is pleased with the audit findings. The Bureau has set a strong foundation and is now implementing effectively on the promises of the Levy. Portlanders placed their confidence in PP&R to deliver, and the audit shows strong financial accountability by the bureau,” says Mary Ruble, PLOC member.
Overview of the Parks Levy
Overwhelmingly approved by Portland voters in November 2020, the five-year Parks Levy is a property tax of $0.80 per $1,000 of Assessed Value that will have raised approximately $47 million per year in PP&R operating costs for five years, starting in fall of 2021.
The Parks Levy is a critical component of the bureau’s operational revenues, forecasted to provide about 40% of operating funds in its final two years (Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26). The funding provides crucial operating funding for the PP&R parks system and programs that provide recreation services and help conserve parks, nature, and clean water.
The bureau has estimated it will fully expend all Parks Levy resources by the end of the five-year timeframe on June 30, 2026. In support of continuing to deliver services supported by the current Parks Levy, City Council unanimously passed a resolution on November 20, 2024, directing PP&R to prepare a resolution for a ballot referral for City Council to consider no later than Spring 2025 to refer to the voters a five-year local option tax levy for the May or November 2025 General Election.
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