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Budget cuts proposed

LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

Last month, all city bureaus submitted fiscal year 2013-14 budgets that were 10 percent lower than their current ones, as ordered by mayor Charlie Hales. They all reflected major cuts in operations and services.

As part of the process, all bureaus submit so-called 'add packages', arguing for re-addition to their budget of services they deem essential if funds are found. In more than a few cases, the same services include those bureaus will initially offer up as cuts.

The police bureau, for example, is notorious for regularly offering up its popular Mounted Patrol Unit for elimination, daring the politicians to do it, and then getting it added back to their budget.

The cuts are necessary to meet an expected shortfall in revenue of $25 million. Some of this is due to the imposition of a new Library District for Multnomah County. It provides more stable funding for this program. However, since it involves an appropriation from the General Fund, and the law does not allow property taxes to increase beyond the rate of inflation, it means funding elsewhere must be cut.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement's cuts include elimination of the bureau's yearly stipends for neighborhood associations to cover printing, mailing and other communications costs, a staple of the budget since the office was created in 1974. Also cut are the bureau's popular Neighborhood Small Grants program, most of its support for volunteer graffiti cleanup activities, some of its insurance coverage for recreational activities, and two of its 11 Neighborhood Crime Prevention positions.

Another major cut - at least officially on the block - is the $279,000 budget for the East Portland Action Plan's implementation.

Other bureaus have similar cuts. The Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission's budget calls for reductions in public outreach and possibly the elimination of district planners who work with citizen groups on local planning issues.

Parks & Recreation could see the elimination of some recreation programs and reduced maintenance at parks and facilities.
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