In July 2020, City Council referred an operating Parks Levy to the November 2020 ballot, which was passed with support from 64% of voters.This legislation will refer a $1.40 per $1,000 Assessed Value five-year local option tax levy to voters, an increase from the $0.80 rate of the current 2020 Parks Local Option Levy. The current Parks Levy will expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2025-26, if not renewed. As proposed, the new levy at a higher rate than the expiring levy would start collections in Fiscal Year 2026-27, enabling seamless receipts of revenue and delivery of services.If passed, the levy would raise approximately $86M in the first year, with an average of $91M raised per year. This rate is forecasted to be sufficient to sustain FY 25-26 park service levels over the next five-year term (FY 2026-27 through FY 2030-31).The proposed legislation will begin to address an imbalance between the operational service levels City Council and Portlanders have identified for the park and recreation system to deliver, and funding levels provided through historic general fund allocations and fee revenues alone that are inadequate to deliver them.
Official proposal and impact statementShould Portland 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…
In July 2020, City Council referred an operating Parks Levy to the November 2020 ballot, which was passed with support from 64% of voters.This legislation will refer a $1.40 per $1,000 Assessed Value five-year local option tax levy to voters, an increase from the $0.80 rate of the current 2020 Parks Local Option Levy. The current Parks Levy will expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2025-26, if not renewed. As proposed, the new levy at a higher rate than the expiring levy would start collections in Fiscal Year 2026-27, enabling seamless receipts of revenue and delivery of services.If passed, the levy would raise approximately $86M in the first year, with an average of $91M raised per year. This rate is forecasted to be sufficient to sustain FY 25-26 park service levels over the next five-year term (FY 2026-27 through FY 2030-31).The proposed legislation will begin to address an imbalance between the operational service levels City Council and Portlanders have identified for the park and recreation system to deliver, and funding levels provided through historic general fund allocations and fee revenues alone that are inadequate to deliver them.
Official impact statementSee the official legal title
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
Will the five-year levy sustain park access and maintenance at the service levels voters were promised?
What this proposal would actually do.
Plain-language orientation first. Every substantive statement below links to its official basis.
The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.
Official matter recordThis proposal concerns transportation & public works and requires action through Portland’s public legislative process.
Official matter classification and recordPP&R has engaged with, and will continue to engage with, many community stakeholders and partners in developing a vision and service level targets for the park and recreation system, documented in its Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland strategic framework. Community members and community organizations have been involved annually on the Budget Advisory Committee, and serve on advisory committees including the Parks Board, Urban Forestry Commission, and Parks Levy Oversight Committee.The Bureau has heard, and continues to hear, from members of the public about concernswith current, and forecasted, levels of funding and desires for sustaining operational service levels. Additionally, PP&R periodically surveys Portlanders to understand their priorities and needs for the park system. An update to the PP&R Community Needs Survey, last conducted in 2017, was conducted in 2024 and will inform future operational service implementation.The levy would increase property tax rates, and we know that burden is greatest on homeowners earning low incomes. The levy would center equity as its focus and bring benefits to those most impacted, including:Daily care and maintenance of neighborhood parks and natural areas.Supporting free and reduced cost programming;Increasing equity of tree canopy coverage across the City by planting trees and doing proactive tree maintenance for all park trees; andProviding new operations and maintenance funding so that non-levy resources, like System Development Charges, can continue to add new parks and new park amenities in areas that have low, or no, services today.Members of the Portland Parks Board, Portland Parks Foundation, Parks Levy Oversight Committee, Portland Parks Alliance, and other community partner groups and individuals will likely be testifying.
Official community impact statementWhat the record establishes and what it does not.
Votes show choices. They do not, by themselves, prove why a member made that choice.
Passed · 11–0
Read the exact motion or vote question
Final action on 2025-281: 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
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The vote above establishes who supported or opposed that exact motion. A source-validated account of the competing reasons will appear only after human review of the meeting transcript and documents.
This operating and capital levy would not incur long-term debt payments, or purchase properties resulting in long term obligations.This action does not amend the budget but should reduce PP&R’s operating budget’s reliance on new General Fund and prevent service reductions during the five-year levy timeframe. The anticipated levy receipts will first be reflected in PP&R’s FY 2026-27 budget.Parks Levy resources would be utilized to reimburse for expenditures associated with delivering services as outlined in the ballot language. In addition to these direct expenditures, the only administrative costs are for General Fund Overhead and reimbursement of compression impacts to the Portland Children’s Levy.PP&R estimates that it could cost up to $700k to place the levy on the November, 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.The levy would cover anticipated new O&M requests associated with building new parks and assets to provide a safe and clean park system that equitably serves all Portlanders.The levy would set aside approximately 2.1% of receipts ($0.03 per $1,000 Assessed Value) to fund capital and operational maintenance projects. This is estimated to produce $2 M a year. Industry good practice levels of investment in capital maintenance are 2-3% of the replacement value of the system. For the PP&R system, using a middle point of 2.5%, that equates to a target of $60 million per year investment in capital maintenance. PP&R currently receives approximately $5 million per year from the General Fund for capital maintenance, leaving a $55 million annual gap between actual funding for capital maintenance and a good practice target level. $2 million per year would fund approximately 3.5% of that gap.The levy would offer continued support for existing programming in the FY 2025-26 budget.The levy would continue to support the Access Discount program without a heavy reliance on fee revenues to deliver recreation programs, allowing equity and affordability to be centered for Portlanders living on low incomes.As forecast factors change during the five years, adjustments would be made through annual budget processes based on any changes to revenues or expenditures.The $1.40 per $1,000 of Assessed Value is expected to raise approximately $86M in the first year, with an average of $91M raised per year. Over the five-year levy, total estimated receipts are $456M. Portland Parks & Recreation commissioned Portland State University Northwest Economic Research Center (NERC) to forecast revenue and compression impacts of a Parks Levy at different rates. This amount incorporates expected compression under Oregon Measure 50 and assumes annual transfers to the Portland Children’s Levy (on average, $867,670 per year) to mitigate the impact of the levy on that Fund.The legislation would financially support maintaining existing positions, though there may be position reductions, increases, or changes through the five-year term. Demographics of the staffing changes are not known at this time, as recruitments or reductions would be dependent on each year’s annual budget.Funds from the levy may be utilized for IAs, IGAs, MOUs, grants, contracts or contract amendments during its five-year timeframe. This legislation is not being enacted specifically for the purpose of supporting IAs, IGAs, MOUs, grants, contracts, or contract amendments.While there may be staffing shifts as operational funding is implemented during its five-year term, there are no specific anticipated staffing or resources associated with collecting or expending this legislation aside from one position anticipated to be added to support partnerships and volunteers. If the referred ballot measure is passed by voters, this legislation will reduce anticipated reduction of existing staff.
Official financial impact statement- The source-linked record has not yet received a human review of competing arguments. A yes or no vote alone does not establish a Councilor’s rationale.
- What implementation evidence will show whether the intended result occurred?
Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.
Official Council agendaInspect the complete research record.
Official text, source files, exact motions, roll calls, provenance, and the technical completeness check remain available without crowding the explanation above.
Official documents1 sources
The operative official record after Council action.
Open at Portland.govRead the full official text
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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, in 2020, Portland voters passed a five-year local option levy (2020 Parks Levy) to support park and recreation operations; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, the proposed $1.40 levy (2025 Parks Levy) would include $1.37 for park and recreation operations, and $0.03 for capital maintenance projects; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, parks and natural areas are essential community assets; andWHEREAS, a new five-year levy would help PP&R meet service level goals, community and City Council expectations; andWHEREAS, a new levy would help keep parks, playgrounds and restrooms clean and safe for all Portlanders, remove litter and hazardous waste; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, a new levy would support free and discount options for recreational programming to low-income Portlanders so that all Portlanders can access these opportunities; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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 (KPIs) for City Council approval. These KPIs will form the Parks Levy performance dashboard; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, City Council will adopt this long-range financial plan by the end of Fiscal Year 2027-28; andWHEREAS, 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 allocation 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, 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; andWHEREAS, if approved, the 2025 Parks Levy would raise an estimated $2 million in the first year to support capital maintenance projects; andWHEREAS, if the 2025 Parks Levy is not approved by voters, fewer park services would be provided; andNOW, 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; andBE 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; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Auditor to publish the ballot title as shown in Exhibit B in accordance with City Code; andBE 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; andBE 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; andBE 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; andBE 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; andBE 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; andBE 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.
Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes1 meetings · 6 votes
Recorded amendments
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Green 1: Moved by Green and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Ryan 1: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Green. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Novick 1: Moved by Novick and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Nay (5): Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney: Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Zimmerman 1: Moved by Zimmerman and seconded by Ryan. (Aye (5): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Zimmerman, Smith; Nay (6): Novick, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Read all 5 exact motions
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Green 1: Moved by Green and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Ryan 1: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Green. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Novick 1: Moved by Novick and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Nay (5): Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney: Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Zimmerman 1: Moved by Zimmerman and seconded by Ryan. (Aye (5): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Zimmerman, Smith; Nay (6): Novick, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 16, 202511 yes · 1 absent
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Green 1: Moved by Green and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 16, 202511 yes · 1 absent
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Ryan 1: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Green. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 16, 202511 yes · 1 absent
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Novick 1: Moved by Novick and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 16, 20256 yes · 5 no
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Nay (5): Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney: Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 16, 20255 yes · 6 no · 1 absent
Motion to amend the Resolution as shown in Zimmerman 1: Moved by Zimmerman and seconded by Ryan. (Aye (5): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Zimmerman, Smith; Nay (6): Novick, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (1): Clark). Motion failed to pass.
Final Council action · Jul 16, 202511 yes · 0 no · 1 absent
Final action on 2025-281: 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
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- First discovered
- Aug 13, 2026, 1:13 PM PDT
- Last checked
- Sep 13, 2026, 2:32 AM PDT
- Evidence hash
- a266957ebf7db503
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- Deterministic baseline
- SOURCE UPDATED
Adopted as amended by council
- DOCUMENT PUBLISHED
Observed in the official source.
- Council Action
Adopted as amended