Portland voters reject plan for resident votes on $16 million in spending

Portland voters rejected Measure 26-267, a proposed charter amendment that would have given residents binding votes on projects funded with at least 2% of the city’s discretionary General Fund spending—roughly $16 million annually. Supporters argued participatory budgeting would give residents, including communities often underrepresented in local government, greater influence and improve transparency. Opponents, including Mayor Keith Wilson and moderate councilors, warned that committing money to a new program amid budget constraints could put pressure on core services; they also raised concerns about the proposal’s unresolved implementation details. The campaign’s funding became a point of contention, with reports that much of the supporters’ sizable fundraising came from donors whose identities were not disclosed.