Reaction to Mayor Sam Adams' budget ranges from relief to let's see
By Janie Har, The Oregonian
May 07, 2010, 8:12PM
Reaction to the city budget proposal released by Portland Mayor Sam Adams on Friday ranged from relief to wait-and-see as City Hall insiders tried to puzzle out what they got.Adams' proposal protects housing, parks, and the water and fire bureaus -- but arts, minority chambers of commerce and the Police Bureau's Mounted Patrol Unit lost out.
"I think most people did pretty well if you look at how he handled the housing requests," said Ty Kovatch, Commissioner Randy Leonard's chief of staff. "He did a really good job of balancing a lot of issues in a tough budget scenario. There's pain, but it's mitigated."
The 2009-10 budget of $3.5 billion runs through June 30. It includes $472 million in the general fund, which comes from property taxes, business license fees and utility fees.
For the 2010-11 budget, the mayor had asked the city's bureaus and offices -- other than public safety -- to recommend reductions totaling 4 percent of what they would need to maintain current service levels. Firm numbers won't be available for several weeks, but Adams' budget calls for
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