Commissioner Rubio Statement on Mayor’s Proposed Budget

I want to thank Mayor Wheeler, his staff, and the City Budget Office for finding a pathway through a challenging budget year.

The budget proposal includes key investments that will expand services and support for small businesses, continues to fund event activation to increase foot traffic, and fully funds the incoming team members of the single permitting authority, recently named Portland Permitting and Development. Come July 1st, for the first time in the city's history, all permitting teams work within one bureau and report to one director.

The focus of the budget on investments to help our small businesses, in addition to permitting reform, were two of my top budget priorities.

Most notably, though, I want to highlight and celebrate the role of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Due to the foresight of the changes I passed at City Council in November 2022 and the thoughtful work of the PCEF Committee, PCEF was able to step in and fund climate work across the entire city enterprise.

The result: immediate budget relief for the city's General Fund, ratepayers, and backfill losses in other funds, such as declining gas taxes. None of this would have been possible without PCEF. And I'm proud that all of the five-year investments align with the program's community-driven values.

All told, PCEF will invest more than $600 million over the next five years, and that includes saving the General Fund $38.4 million in Fiscal Year 24-25:

• $29 million for City Operations, which will help increase the electric vehicles and support EV charging infrastructure within the city fleet.
• $176 million for Community & Economic Development, which will help fund community-based renewable energy adoption, climate-friendly infrastructure investments for 82nd Avenue, and preservation and rehabilitation of low-income multifamily housing.
• $235 million for Public Works, which will help fund watershed and natural system restoration, LED streetlighting, and street tree expansion along 82nd Avenue.
• $167 million for Vibrant Communities, which will help fund street tree protection and care, equitable tree canopy, and energy efficiency upgrades for community centers.

The Mayor's proposed budget will now go before City Council and the public for review over the next six weeks. Final passage is expected to occur during the week of June 17.