Hundreds testify: restore fire, 911, parks and preserve PSF/oversight funding

Portland’s budget hearing on May 18 turned into an extended forum for frontline staff, community groups and residents to press the council for targeted restorations to services after administrators proposed layoffs and program cuts.

Union leaders and city employees described imminent layoff notices and operational impacts: Karen Aguirre and multiple precinct desk clerks detailed the front‑desk and triage duties that keep police precincts functioning; PBOT and parks staff warned that specialized positions and institutional knowledge are at risk if positions are eliminated. Firefighters and their union president, Isaac MacLennan, said the city already fails to meet the four‑minute response standard citywide and that proposed cuts — including the possible closure or reduced staffing of Engine 22 in North Portland — would worsen response times.

Community organizations and environmental groups repeatedly objected to proposed transfers of interest from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PSF/PCF). Multiple speakers argued that the fund has been repurposed repeatedly and that interest transfers erode the voter‑approved intent to invest in climate resilience and frontline community projects. ‘‘PSF funds must be used as they were intended by the voters,’’ one speaker said, urging councilors to reject transfers without a publicly deliberated CIP update.

Other testimony urged saving parks maintenance and tree‑canopy positions funded by PSF, preserving workforce development programs (the Portland Economic Opportunity/COEP contracts), and maintaining community‑led violence prevention initiatives such as ceasefire and the Office of Violence Prevention. Several speakers opposed proposals to reallocate unspent funds from the newly created Office of Community‑based Police Accountability (OCPA), warning that the board is still building capacity and needs its budget to launch operations.

Council indicated the hearing would continue on May 19 with additional amendment votes and deliberations; no final adoption of the full budget occurred on May 18.