2025 Parks Local Option Levy

Ballot Title

CAPTION

Maintain safe parks, nature, affordable recreation through 5-year levy.

QUESTION

Should Portland maintain parks, recreation, fund repairs; five-year levy $1.40 per $1,000 assessed value beginning 2026-2027? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

SUMMARY

In 2020, City of Portland voters approved a five-year levy to support parks and recreation operations that expires in 2025. If a new levy is not approved, the Parks operating budget would be reduced by approximately half, resulting in fewer programs and services. 

A new five-year levy would maintain operations, fund capital projects:

ENSURE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS MAINTENANCE AND CLEANLINESS

• Daily restroom cleaning, trash pickup
• Routine maintenance, minor repairs
• Repair or renovate facilities like playgrounds, restrooms, pools
• Park ranger safety patrols, incident responses 

PROTECT NATURE IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

• Plant, maintain trees
• Preserve natural areas, trails, water quality, wildlife habitat
• Clear brush, maintain emergency access routes to reduce wildfire risk 

PRESERVE PROGRAM ACCESS

• Continue free, discounted recreation programs for families experiencing poverty
• Preserve classes, community center hours, arts and cultural centers, parks, pools 

Community oversight committee would review levy expenditures, provide annual reports. Independent audit required. 

A median homeowner would pay about $310 per year, or $26 per month - a $11 monthly increase. 

Levy would raise approximately $86,268,997 in 2026–2027, $88,719,730 in 2027–2028, $91,411,705 in 2028–2029, $93,588,449 in 2029–2030, and $96,068,483 in 2030–2031, for a total of $456,057,364.

Explanatory Statement

This Measure would allow the City of Portland to levy $1.40 per $1,000 assessed value for five years to operate the parks and recreation system, replacing and increasing the rate of the current $0.80 per $1,000 assessed value levy that expires after fiscal year 2025-2026. Within the $1.40 per $1,000 assessed value levy, $1.37 will be for park and recreation operations and $0.03 will be for capital projects. Services and programs are planned to include, but are not limited to:

• Fix park playgrounds, pools and splash pads, restrooms, and other facilities in need of critical repairs.

The levy will continue offering:

• Daily restroom cleaning and trash pick-up at every developed park.
• Summer events and Free Lunch & Play programs, Free for All free movies, concerts.
• Inspection of every developed park tree, performing proactive maintenance on park trees to prioritize public safety.
• Additional ongoing daily work in parks, natural areas, trails, and community centers, including:
  • Safety
    • Supporting safety with hazard checks in parks and natural areas, Park Ranger patrols, incident response, and nighttime lock-up of facilities.
    • Performing wildfire prevention through brush clearing, tree pruning, removing invasive species and other hazards, and maintaining emergency access routes.
  • Regular Maintenance
    • Inspecting park assets like playgrounds, pathways, trails, bridges, and community centers.
    • Repairing park assets and performing routine maintenance like painting, carpentry, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.
    • Improving safety, accessibility, and year-round usability of park paths and trails through repairs and hazards removal.
  • Nature
    • Supporting our environment through planting native species, improving wildlife habitat, stabilizing slopes, and taking care of assets like signs, gates, fences, culverts, bridges.
    • Planting new trees in low-canopy areas.
  • Affordable Programs
    • Providing free and low-cost options so every Portlander, regardless of income, can participate.
    • Keeping community centers and pools open with diverse programming and classes.

Investment in partnerships to deliver services, programs, and community initiatives, including through access to PP&R facilities for partner-provided programming. Unlock the power of volunteers and collaboration with local and regional groups to improve safety, sustainability, connectivity, and long-term stewardship in Portland’s parks and recreation system. 

A community oversight committee will be appointed to review levy expenditures, data, and minimum performance metrics and report annually to City Council as part of the budget process. The Parks Bureau will provide for a performance audit to ensure that services funded by the levy would continue to be consistent with voter intent. 

The City estimates that the levy tax rate of $1.40/$1,000 assessed value would cost the median residential property approximately $11 per month over the current levy (or $26 per month), raising approximately $86 million in the first year with an estimated average of $91 million raised annually over five years. If a new levy is not approved, the Parks operating budget would be reduced by approximately half, resulting in fewer programs and services.

Refer to the voters a five-year local option tax levy for the November 4, 2025 election to maintain safe parks, nature, affordable recreation through 5-year levy 

Adopted 

Amended by Council

WHEREAS, Portland's parks, natural areas, trees, and recreational opportunities improve public health, are essential public assets, add beauty to our city, connect people to place, nature, self, and community, and are a fundamental part of what makes Portland a livable, vibrant city; and 

WHEREAS, Portland's park system is managed by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and includes 11,677 total acres, 7,895 acres of which are natural areas, across 5 watersheds, 156 developed parks, 12 community and art centers, 11 community pools, 1.2 million trees in parks, and more; and 

WHEREAS, Portland's residents treasure and care for this legacy, regularly citing parks as a reason they choose to live in Portland, and value equitable access to the spaces and programs that are a part of our park system for all Portlanders; and 

WHEREAS, in 2020, Portland voters passed a five-year local option levy (2020 Parks Levy) to support park and recreation operations; and 

WHEREAS, the 2020 Parks Levy is a critical source of PP&R's operational revenues; and 

WHEREAS, an independent audit found that the 2020 Parks Levy complied with voter commitments, and that levy dollars were clearly tracked using strong financial systems; and 

WHEREAS, the proposed $1 .40 levy (2025 Parks Levy) would include $1 .37 for park and recreation operations, and $0.03 for capital maintenance projects; and 

WHEREAS, the $1.37 for operations is forecasted to sustain the levels of operational service provided to Portlanders, at levels included in the FY 25-26 budget; and

WHEREAS, a new levy would include $0.03 of the rate for capital maintenance projects that maintain our park system, such as repair of bathrooms and playgrounds, enabling the City to address critical capital maintenance needs in each District; and 

WHEREAS, parks and natural areas are essential community assets; and 

WHEREAS, a new five-year levy would help PP&R meet service level goals, community and City Council expectations; and 

WHEREAS, a new levy would help keep parks, playgrounds and restrooms clean and safe for all Portlanders, remove litter and hazardous waste; and 

WHEREAS, a new levy would help ensure currently-planned new parks or park assets receive appropriate operational funding, including the planned new North Portland Aquatic Center, Old Town and Creston Skateparks, and Wilkes Headwaters; and 

WHEREAS, Portlanders value trees, and trees provide essential benefits by improving air quality, reducing heat island effects, decreasing heating and cooling costs, sequestering carbon, increasing property values, and more, but today, the benefits of our urban tree canopy are not equally distributed; and 

WHEREAS, Portland's 7,895 acres of natural areas need sufficient resources to preserve habitat, prevent wildfires, improve water quality, and protect native plantings from invasive species; and 

WHEREAS, a new levy would provide continued resources to protect natural areas, rivers, wetlands, natural features, and improve the health and equitable distribution of our tree canopy, enable PP&R to proactively maintain existing park trees, and plant new trees each year in parks and natural areas with low canopy; and 

WHEREAS, Portlanders value access to community and art centers, pools, and programs, and a new levy would provide resources to continue supporting park programs, operationally supporting keeping facilities open and programmed; and 

WHEREAS, a new levy would support free and discount options for recreational programming to low-income Portlanders so that all Portlanders can access these opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the City of Portland recognizes that strengthening partnerships with the private sector, philanthropic community, volunteers, and grassroots organizations is essential to fostering resilient, accessible, and high-quality parks and community spaces that reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of all Portland residents; and 

WHEREAS, PP&R values partnerships and volunteers, and through this new levy, will strengthen its volunteer and partnership program and approach; and 

WHEREAS, PP&R will produce annual reports on how levy funds are being spent, including performance metrics and financial data about bureau service delivery and volunteer and partnership levels, and regularly engage in sharing information with and receiving feedback from City Council about the 2025 Parks Levy and its funded services; and

WHEREAS, PP&R shall, as part of the annual budget process, describe to Council the approximate percentage of its operations, and number of FTE, which will be funded by levy resources; and 

WHEREAS, on or before December 31, 2025, PP&R leadership in collaboration with stakeholders will submit key performance indicators (KPls) for City Council approval. These KPls will form the Parks Levy performance dashboard; and 

WHEREAS, a community member oversight committee will review Levy spending and report to the Bureau and City Council on transparency, fiscal accountability, and adherence to ballot language, and produce annual reports; and 

WHEREAS, City Council recognizes that the Parks and Recreation system has an extensive backlog of capital maintenance needs, and the 2025 Parks Levy will begin to address these needs but will only be able to address a small fraction of these needs; the Council will continue to work with PP&R and community on a long-range financial plan, will explore options for a major maintenance bond measure, and will direct the Office of Government Relations to work in the Legislature to clarify authority for the use of System Development Charges for major capital maintenance projects, and will pursue, as appropriate, policy changes in the City of Portland that clarify and prioritize the use of System Development Charge for extension of useful life or restoration of existing capital assets; and 

WHEREAS, City Council will adopt this long-range financial plan by the end of Fiscal Year 2027-28; and 

WHEREAS, this Council commits to following Financial policy 2.03, passed in 2015 but not followed by many previous Councils, which states "At least fifty-percent (50%) of General Fund discretionary revenue that exceeds budgeted beginning balance (adjusted for the difference in encumbrance carryovers and Council-authorized carryovers from the prior fiscal year) will be set aside during the Fall budget monitoring process for a/location to infrastructure maintenance or replacement in the subsequent budget process. This funding shall be allocated for projects relating to emergency preparedness, parks and recreation, and transportation.'

WHEREAS, without a 2025 Parks Levy, PP&R's revenues are insufficient to deliver needed services and outcomes to the community, to provide an equitable and affordable park system, and to meet rising internal costs without service reductions; and 

WHEREAS, if approved, the levy tax rate would be $1 .40 per $1,000 of assessed value, about $26 per month for a median residential property owner; and

WHEREAS, if approved, the 2025 Parks Levy would raise an estimated $84 million in the first year to support operations of community centers and pools, continue recreation programming, maintain existing parks and natural area services, expand the urban tree canopy, and more; and 

WHEREAS, if approved, the 2025 Parks Levy would raise an estimated $2 million in the first year to support capital maintenance projects; and 

WHEREAS, if the 2025 Parks Levy is not approved by voters, fewer park services would be provided; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council submits an Act, attached hereto as Exhibit A, entitled: "A Measure directing a five-year local option ad valorem property tax levy within the City of Portland at a rate of $1 .40 per $1,000 of assessed value, outside certain constitutional limitations, commencing in fiscal year 2026-27, for parks and recreation purposes. $1.37 of the rate will be for operations, $0.03 of the rate will be for capital maintenance projects," and hereby submits to the legal voters of the City of Portland, Oregon, for their adoption or rejection at the election in the City of Portland, Multnomah County, Clackamas County, and Washington County, to be held on November 4, 2025. Each voter who votes upon said proposed measure shall vote "yes" or "no" in the space indicated for such vote on the City ballot at said election; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council submits the ballot title, question, and summary for the November 4, 2025 election ballot, as shown in the attached Exhibit B; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Auditor to publish the ballot title as shown in Exhibit B in accordance with City Code; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Auditor to submit the explanatory statement attached as Exhibit C to the Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington County elections offices for publication in each county's voters' pamphlet; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is directed to forward to the Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington County elections offices all material necessary to place this measure on the November 4, 2025 election ballot; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that PP&R estimates that it could cost up to $700k to place the levy on the November 4, 2025 ballot. The bureau may additionally have some costs associated with providing information after the ballot measure is referred. The General Fund will pay this cost, whether out of the Bureau's ongoing General Fund allocation or a separate allocation during the Fall Technical Adjustment Ordinance; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor of the City of Portland is hereby authorized to incur expenses, if any, necessary and incident to the conduct of the November 4, 2025 Special Election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this 2025 Parks Levy will fund 1.0 FTE staff position for the duration of the Parks Levy lifecycle, dedicated to financial partnerships and revenue generation, in an effort to achieve additional stable funding streams for Park's recreation programming, parks, and facilities. This includes developing donor network, local business partnerships, and opportunities for public/private partnerships. This position will operate as a resource multiplier and cultivate new revenues for the park and recreation system; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the $0.03 for capital maintenance projects is intended to be distributed between the four Council Districts during the five-year timeframe of the 2025 Parks Levy. Annually, the Director of PP&R will prepare lists of capital maintenance needs and capital replacement opportunities, along with annual estimates for available funds each fiscal year. City Council members in each District will recommend which projects to advance each year in their District based on available funds. Capital maintenance project decisions for Levy Funds will be included, along with other capital maintenance projects, for City Council approval in their adopted budget, and, where appropriate, System Development Charge use will continue to include capacity improvement projects that extend the useful life or restores the capacity value of existing Parks capital assets; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon passage of this levy by Portland voters, Council will make an appropriation in the annual budget from the Parks Local Option Levy Fund to the Children's Investment Fund for changes in revenue caused by compression from the Parks Local Option Levy under Oregon property tax law.