Mayor Wheeler Proposes $6.7 Billion Budget Focused On Quality Of Life

PORTLAND, OR — Mayor Ted Wheeler announced a nearly $7 billion budget that aims to address three of Portland’s top issues: the economy, homelessness and safety, the mayor said.

The issues continually show up as the top concerns of Portland's residents and business owners, he said. The $6.7 billion budget is set to be officially unveiled on Thursday.

Wheeler's budget contains just over $100 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and around $2 million in funds from the recreational cannabis tax.

The budget calls for spending around $83 million for homeless services, around $36 million for public safety and roughly $23 million for economic recovery.

The budget proposal includes:

• Around $1.3 million to streamline the process for developers to get permits for their projects.
• $11.5 million to turns the Portland Street Response program into a 24/7 operation.
• $32.8 million or the Joint Office of Homelessness Services.
• $3.9 million for body cameras for police officers.
• $5.2 million to maintain the affordable status for apartments that were set to revert to market cost.
• $36.2 million for the first two years of six Safe Rest villages.
• $13 million for gun violence prevention programs.
• $1.5 million to establish a citywide events office.
• $1.8 million for the Pars Bureau to hire more rangers.
• $3 million to hire more 911 operators and expand 311 services.

Wheeler's proposed budget is the start of a process that includes public hearings and a vote of the city council.