Operating funds for the opening of the North Portland Aquatic Center are included in the Portland Parks & Recreation property tax levy the Portland City Council has referred to the Nov. 4 special election ballot.
If approved by voters, the levy will continue funding PP&R programs and services for the following five years at the current level in the budget that took effect July 1. If the levy does not pass, the council could be forced to cut parks funding by $85 million (roughly half of the current funding) in the next budget cycle because the existing five-year parks levy expires in 2026. This could result in the closure of numerous parks, community centers and programs.
Although the aquatic center will be a new service, the council specifically included operational funds in the ballot measure to ensure it will open in fiscal year 2029-2030, when construction is scheduled to be completed.
“Parks are part of what holds our community together,” said Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney.
Councilor Sameer Kanal supported the levy to continue parks services, but said he believes a future bond measure is needed to maintain existing facilities. PP&R currently has a $615 million deferred maintenance backlog.
The measure would increase the property tax rate by 75%, from 80 cents to $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median homeowner would pay about $310 a year, and the median commercial property owner would pay around $440 annually. That would raise $86 million in the levy’s first year and an average of $91 million over the full five years. The measure dedicates 1.37 to operations and 3 cents to capital projects.
Courtesy of ELS Architecture.
Commissioner Ryan said he was originally reluctant to go above $1.20, but was assured by an accountability provision in the measure to ensure the funds are properly spent.
Passage of the levy is not guaranteed. An April poll found that only a slim majority of voters (54%) supports the $1.40 rate. On top of that, PP&R Director Adena Long announced her resignation the day of the vote after being placed on paid administrative leave in mid-June. No reason has been given for the personnel decision, but it means the campaign to pass the levy begins with no permanent director in charge of the bureau it will fund.
After threatening to oppose the measure if the rate was higher than $1.40, the Portland Metro Chamber, which represents many area businesses, endorsed it at the July 16 hearing. “Portland’s parks are more than amenities,” said Chamber Vice President Jon Isaacs. “They are core economic assets.”
Citywide, the parks system stretches across 11,677 total acres (7,895 of which are natural areas) that comprise five watersheds, 156 developed parks, 12 community and art centers, 11 community pools, 1.2 million trees in parks, and more. PP&R began planning for the aquatics center at Northgate Park in 2021. The center will have an indoor pool with play features, a competitive lap pool, spa, lockers and reservable party rooms. Its current estimated budget is approximately $100 million.
“This is something we’ve promised North Portland residents,” Ryan said about the aquatics center funding.
By Jim Redden