The 2020 Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy) supports a critical operational funding need in the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) budget, with planning starting as early as 2019. The Parks Levy is, most importantly, the result of Portlanders' belief in an equitable, stable, and impactful parks and recreation system. PP&R stewards the Parks Levy with the purpose of delivering on commitments made to voters.
PP&R continues to explore funding options for PP&R operations and sustainable future funding for parks and recreation services. Read more about PP&R's financial sustainability work.
Winter 2024
Year 3 (FY 2023-24) strengthened existing efforts and created new and impactful programming. Staff maintenance hours and hours spent on park restroom cleaning and care increased. The new Schools to Pools program gave free swim instruction to second graders across Portland. PP&R expanded partnership opportunities and support for space use for community organizations to provide programming in PP&R spaces. Overall, PP&R continues to deliver on the commitments made to voters in 2020.
The 2023-24 Parks Levy Annual Report and Parks Levy Oversight Committee Reportwere unanimously accepted by City Council on January 15, 2025. Watch the presentation of the 2023-24 annual reports and City Council acceptance:
December 2024
The voter approved 2020 Parks Levy ballot language directed PP&R to conduct a performance audit to ensure that services funded by the Parks Levy are consistent with voter intent. In May 2024, PP&R kicked off a performance audit with Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting Inc. (SEC). SEC found that Parks Levy funds are being spent in a manner that adheres to the language approved by voters and PP&R’s financial systems ensure that Parks Levy dollars are clearly and accurately tracked. Read the full audit report here.
November 20, 2024
In anticipation of the active 2020 Parks Local Option Levy expiring after Fiscal Year 2025-26 and a timeline for referral, City Council directed PP&R to prepare a resolution for City Council to consider no later than Spring 2025 to refer a five-year local option tax levy for the May or November 2025 General Election to fund park maintenance, deliver recreation programs, and care for natural areas, water quality, and urban forest
Fall/Winter 2023
Year 2 (FY 2022-23) saw increased outcomes, hiring, financial assistance, and more. Notably, the Parks Levy allowed PP&R to quickly adapt to a nationwide aquatics hiring shortage, expand the Soft Surface Trails team and the Protect the Best team, and increase grants to partner organizations through the Community Partnership Program.
The 2022-23 Parks Levy Annual Report and Parks Levy Oversight Committee Report was accepted by City Council and published in December 2023.
Watch the presentation of the 2022-23 annual reports and City Council acceptance:
Fall 2022
Year 1 (FY 2021-22) of the Parks Levy established the mechanisms to see success in the following years, including financial tracking systems, eligibility analysis, and planning including approving new positions in the Bureau. These Year 1 “ramp-up” efforts created capacity, resources, and processes for successful delivery of Parks Levy–funded services in subsequent years.
The 2021-22 Parks Levy Annual Report and Parks Levy Oversight Committee Report was accepted by City Council and published in October 2022.
Watch the presentation of the 2021-22 annual reports and City Council acceptance:
Summer 2021
PP&R worked with City Council to get early access to Parks Levy resources, ahead of collection of Parks Levy resources in November 2021, allowing PP&R to deliver a COVID-19 responsive summer program in 2021. Programming included over 15,000 swim lessons, summer camps for over 7,500 kids, over 100,000 nutritious meals served at 30+ park sites, Fitness in the Park classes for over 2,000 people, pop-up concerts, and many other services throughout the city. Without the Parks Levy, community centers, camps, and pools would have been shuttered indefinitely. See what the Parks Levy meant to Portland in Summer 2021:
November 3, 2020
The Parks Levy was passed in the November 2020 election. Thank you, Portland voters!
July 22, 2020
PP&R pivoted to analyze its new financial position and conducted a poll to assess viability for two funding options: bond and local option levy. Poll respondents indicated that the work that a levy would do (bringing programming back, protecting and growing nature) was a higher priority than a bond to address deferred maintenance. In July 2020, City Council approved a resolution to refer a Parks Local Option Levy for voters to consider on the November 3, 2020 ballot.
March 2020
Following the work session, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed financial circumstances as PP&R heavily depended on fees from in-person programming. The pandemic changed the magnitude and immediacy of the operating funding gap.
November 26, 2019
At the Council Work Session in November 2019, PP&R highlighted significant funding gaps for both operating and capital maintenance and presented six funding options. Of the options presented, Council encouraged Parks to focus future work on General Obligation Bonds, a temporary Local Option Levy, a food/beverage tax, and a special district – and to add income tax to the list.
Spring 2019
The path to the Parks Levy started in spring of 2019 with PP&R budget cuts and a commitment to think about solutions to address the Bureau’s structural funding gap. Portland City Council requested a work session to hear about different funding solutions.
Portland Parks & Recreation’s developing civil rights page offers information related to making programming more accessible and inclusive.