Community Budgeting For All Shifts to 2026 Election

Community budgeting would give all Portlanders a vote on a small portion of the city’s budget through a collaborative and transparent process that would foster trust and accountability in our city government.

Across the country, research shows that community budgeting can increase the number and diversity of people deciding how public funds are spent.

Thousands of governments around the world are successfully using participatory budgeting to amplify residents' voices and improve their communities. Portland is the last major west coast city that does not provide residents with an opportunity to directly shape the City’s budget through participatory budgeting.

Portland is far more likely to find creative and effective solutions that better meet community needs when we have a diversity of voices directly shaping our decision making. Research shows that community budgeting diversifies who is deciding how public funds are spent.

Instead of typical backroom deals and ignored public testimony, residents would collaborate in the community and with City staff to develop and fund solutions. Portlanders would have a recurring avenue to bring forward problems, build skills, and relationships, and craft shared goals and solutions in partnership with City staff.