Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and Reverend William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign call budgets moral statements that must reflect the values of the public. Yet, while the Portland metro region is booming with wealth, we are told time and again there is no money to fund community needs.
- Why is our money going to the police but not parks? The majority of the General Fund is slated for “public safety” while community centers that provide affordable childcare, green spaces, physical activity and vital social connections are shut down.
- Why is our money grabbed by private business to fuel gentrification and criminalize houselessness while lining the pockets of the 1%?
- Why is our money going to vanity projects that entertain the few but not to public services like municipal broadband and banking that serve the needs of many?
The budget cycle begins this fall. Now is the time to start our campaign to change the budget in 2020. At the PMPC Budget Lab you will learn how the current budget process works (or doesn’t), dig into budget details, engage in developing a budget campaign, and participate in designing a budget led by Participatory Budgeting Oregon that truly reflects our community priorities, values and vision.