Budget, taxes and fees
Council decisions about budget, taxes and fees: 30 decisions. Map ›
October 2026
-
Higher permit fee and one permit type for secondhand dealers
Secondhand dealers, such as pawn shops, music stores, sporting goods shops and jewelry buyers, need a city permit, which the city uses to help keep stolen goods from being sold. This change sets the yearly permit fee at $450, ties it to inflation each year, and ends the cheaper "occasional" dealer category. It also spells out what a permit application must include, both for a new permit and for each yearly renewal.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Passed with changes, 12 to 0.
-
City joins state and county in new group to oversee Moda Center
This lets the city sign an agreement with the State of Oregon and Multnomah County to create the Oregon Arena Joint Authority. This new group will oversee planning, paying for and running a proposed public renovation of the city-owned Moda Center. A state law requires this group before state money for the renovation can be used.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Passed, 8 to 4. An earlier motion by Councilor Green to change the item's impact statement failed, 5 to 7. · District 2
-
Council names three city staff to oversee Moda Center renovation money
The council confirmed three city staff members to a new seven-member board called the Oregon Arena Joint Authority. The board, set up by the state, the city and Multnomah County, will watch over how public money is spent to renovate the city-owned Moda Center. The three are City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III, Building Official Natalie Didion and City Budget Office Deputy Director Brian Connell.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Confirmed, 12 to 0. · District 2
-
Council moves fall budget update forward to a final vote
This is the city's yearly fall budget update. It changes how much money is set aside in 69 city funds, based on how much money was left over when last fiscal year closed. It also changes the number of city jobs and sets starting budget targets for next year's General Fund, the city's main pot of money for basic services.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Council changed the ordinance with an amendment from Councilor Dunphy, 9 to 1. Smith voted no, and Zimmerman and Morillo were absent. The ordinance then moved to a second reading, the final step before a vote.
-
City plans a savings cushion for swings in business tax money
This law would move the City's financial planning rules into City Code. It would also create a new savings fund for the Business License Tax, a tax on businesses that makes up close to 30 percent of the City's main general budget. That tax money rises and falls a lot from year to year, and the savings fund is meant to cover those swings.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Passed to second reading. No final vote yet.
-
Council sets the schedule for building next year's city budget
This sets the timeline the City Council will follow to build the city budget for the year starting July 2027. It includes planned public hearings and community listening sessions on the budget in each council district. It also sets council break dates for 2027 and changes some committee meeting dates to fit the budget work.
City of Portland · October 21, 2026 · Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 members absent. Before the final vote, the council changed the calendar details (Exhibits A and B) in a 9 to 1 vote.
-
City raises yearly permit fee for payday lenders to match inflation
Payday lenders, businesses that make small short-term loans, must get a yearly city permit. This raises that permit fee by about 60%, the first increase since the program began in 2006. The fee will also rise each year with inflation.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 councilors absent. · District 2, District 4
-
New rules for private pay parking lots: better signs, photo proof for tickets
This changes city rules for privately run parking lots, including lots where you pay and park. Lots must post clearer signs about their rules, and operators must take photos when they issue a parking penalty notice. It also raises the one-time permit application fee for lot operators to match inflation and adds a yearly inflation adjustment.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 councilors absent. · District 4
-
City raises poker room permit fee, first update since 1974
Places that host social games, mostly poker rooms, need a city permit. This raises the yearly permit fee to catch up with inflation and adds an automatic inflation increase each year. Permit holders must also follow the city's business license and tax rules to get and keep a permit.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 councilors absent.
-
City ends permit rule for pinball machines, pool tables and similar games
Businesses with amusement devices like pinball machines and pool tables will no longer need a yearly city permit or pay its fees. The rule dates to about 1929, and the city's Revenue Division found it is no longer needed. The program closes on December 31, 2026.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Passed, 10 to 0, with 2 councilors absent.
-
Secondhand dealer permit fees rise to $450, occasional category ends
This changes city rules for secondhand dealers, such as pawn shops, music stores, sporting goods shops and jewelry buyers. It raises the yearly permit application fee to $450, ties it to inflation each year, and ends the cheaper "occasional" dealer category so all dealers get one permit type. It also spells out what a permit application must include and requires an application with a fee both for a new permit and at each yearly renewal.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading with changes. No vote count was given.
-
City moves toward joint state-county group to oversee Moda Center renovation
This lets the City Administrator sign an agreement with the State of Oregon and Multnomah County to create the Oregon Arena Joint Authority. This new group would oversee planning, paying for, renovating and running the city-owned Moda Center. State law requires this group before state money for the renovation can be used.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Moved to a second reading, a required later vote, on October 21, 2026. No vote count was given. · District 2
-
Council delays naming city's three members to Moda Center oversight board
The Mayor asked council to name three city staff members to the Oregon Arena Joint Authority. This is a new seven-member board set up by the state, city and Multnomah County to oversee public money for renovating the city-owned Moda Center. The proposed picks are City Administrator Raymond C. Lee III, Building Official Natalie Didion, and City Budget Office Deputy Director Brian Connell.
City of Portland · October 14, 2026 · Delayed to October 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm. No vote was taken. · District 2
-
Payday lenders' yearly city permit fee goes up 60 percent
Payday lenders, businesses that make small, short-term loans, must get a yearly city permit. This change raises that permit fee by about 60 percent, the first increase since the program began in 2006. After that, the fee will rise each year with inflation.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading, a required final vote, on October 14, 2026. No vote count was given. · District 2, District 4
-
New rules for private pay parking lots: better signs, photo proof for tickets
This changes city rules for private parking lots that charge for parking or ticket people who park without permission. Lots must post clearer signs about their rules, and staff must take photos when they issue a parking penalty notice. The one-time permit application fee for lot operators goes up to match inflation and will rise with inflation every year after.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading. No vote was taken yet. · District 4
-
Higher permit fees and new tax rule for Portland poker rooms
This raises the yearly permit fee for businesses that run social games, like poker rooms, to catch up with inflation, since the fee has not changed since 1974. The fee will also rise each year with inflation. Businesses must follow the city's business license and tax rules to get and keep the permit.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading, which is a final vote at a later meeting. No vote count was given.
-
City plans to end permits for pinball machines and pool tables
This would end a city rule, dating to about 1929, that makes businesses get a yearly permit for amusement devices like pinball machines and pool tables. The 199 businesses that hold these permits would no longer need to apply each year or pay the fees. The repeal would take effect December 31, 2026.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading, a required later vote before it becomes final. No vote count was given.
-
City can now sell ads on streetcar benches and shelters
Until now, city rules let only TriMet sell ads on benches and shelters where people wait for transit. This change lets the City, which owns the Portland Streetcar, also sell ads on streetcar benches and shelters. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) plans to run the next streetcar ad contract.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Passed, 12 to 0.
-
City updates fire permit and inspection fees to cover more costs
This updates the fees Portland Fire & Rescue charges for permits, inspections, plan reviews and other fire safety services. Some fees go up so they better match what the services actually cost, and less money comes from the city's main tax-funded budget (the General Fund). It removes the fee for selling or storing fireworks, since fireworks are banned, and adds new fees for fire system testing and maintenance and for a yearly laser display permit.
City of Portland · October 7, 2026 · Passed with changes, 9 to 2. One member was absent.
September 2026
-
City may sell ads on Portland Streetcar benches and shelters
Right now, city rules let only TriMet put ads on benches and shelters where people wait for transit. This change would let the City, which owns the Portland Streetcar, sell ads on streetcar benches and shelters too. The city's transportation bureau (PBOT) plans to take over the streetcar ad contract when the current one ends on November 11, 2026.
City of Portland · September 30, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading, which is a required second council vote before it becomes law. No vote count was given.
-
City updates fire permit and inspection fees to cover more costs
This updates the fees Portland Fire & Rescue charges for permits, inspections, plan reviews and other fire safety services. Some fees go up so they match what the services actually cost, which means less tax money from the city's main budget (the General Fund) pays for them. It removes the fee for selling or storing fireworks, since fireworks were banned in 2022, and adds new fees for fire system inspection and testing and for a yearly laser display permit.
City of Portland · September 30, 2026 · Moved forward to a second vote, with changes. No vote count was given.
-
City accepts $207,411 state grant for police to stop street takeovers
This lets the city spend $207,411.35 from an Oregon Department of Transportation grant to fight street racing and street takeovers. The money pays for police overtime and equipment such as portable cameras to break up these events and charge people who break traffic laws. Council also moved $10,370.57 from a city reserve fund to the Office of Community Based Police Accountability.
City of Portland · September 23, 2026 · Passed with changes, 11 to 1. Two changes were added first: one passed 8 to 4 and one passed 12 to 0. It is an emergency ordinance, so it takes effect right away.
-
Police get state grant for crash drones and electronic ticket printers
The city accepts $103,069 from the Oregon Department of Transportation's Traffic Safety Office for the Portland Police Bureau. The money buys crash investigation drones, a crash investigation computer, and mobile printers so officers can write tickets electronically instead of on paper. It also pays for officer training on these tools.
City of Portland · September 23, 2026 · Passed as amended, 9 to 3. Council first approved a change proposed by Councilor Kanal, 7 to 5. It then added an emergency clause, 11 to 1, so the law takes effect right away and the items can be bought before the grant ends.
-
City pays $125,000 to settle bicycle crash injury lawsuit
The city will pay $125,000 to Joseph Rios to end his lawsuit over injuries from a July 17, 2023 bicycle crash involving the Portland Bureau of Transportation. City lawyers said the city could lose if the case went to a jury, so they recommended settling. Because it is an emergency ordinance, it takes effect right away.
City of Portland · September 23, 2026 · Passed, 11 to 0. One member was absent.
-
City may allow ads on Portland Streetcar benches and shelters
Right now, city code lets only TriMet sell ads on benches and shelters where people wait for transit. This change would let the City, through the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), also sell ads on the benches and shelters it owns for the Portland Streetcar. PBOT plans to take over the streetcar ad contract when the current one ends in November 2026.
City of Portland · September 23, 2026 · Rescheduled to a later meeting at the September 23, 2026 meeting. The linked document is marked as passed, but no vote is listed for this meeting.
-
Fire department fees for permits and inspections set to rise
This updates the fees Portland Fire & Rescue charges for permits, inspections, plan reviews and other fire safety services so they cover more of the real cost. It drops the permit fee for selling or storing fireworks, since the city banned fireworks in 2022, and adds new fees for fire system inspection, testing and maintenance and for a yearly laser display permit. It does not change fire safety rules.
City of Portland · September 23, 2026 · Rescheduled to a later meeting at this session. City records list the ordinance as passed.
-
City moves to foreclose on troubled Sandy Boulevard property over unpaid liens
The city will start foreclosure on 7545 NE Sandy Blvd to collect unpaid city liens, which are debts tied to the property for code violations and nuisance cleanup. The city says the vacant, run-down property has caused problems for neighbors and drawn many police calls. The city plans to sell the property to recover what it is owed.
City of Portland · September 16, 2026 · Passed, 11 to 0. One council member (Smith) was absent. · District 3
-
City moves to foreclose on N Columbia Blvd property over unpaid fines
The City will start foreclosure on a property on N Columbia Blvd because the owner has not paid City liens. A lien is a legal claim on a property for money owed. These liens came from code violations, nuisance cleanup and other enforcement, and the City says the vacant, distressed property has caused problems for neighbors, including frequent police calls.
City of Portland · September 16, 2026 · Passed, 11 to 0. One member, Smith, was absent. · District 2
-
State grant pays police overtime to stop street racing and takeovers
The city accepts $207,411.35 from the Oregon Department of Transportation's traffic safety office. The money pays Portland Police overtime to break up and prevent street racing and street takeover events, and buys equipment like deployable cameras. These events have blocked emergency access, and the city says 12 homicides since 2021 were linked to them.
City of Portland · September 16, 2026 · Moved forward to a second reading on September 23, 2026. No vote count was given.
-
Police get $103,069 state grant for traffic tickets and crash drones
This lets the city spend a $103,069 state grant on Portland Police traffic work. It pays for officer training, printers to write tickets electronically instead of on paper, drones to document crash scenes, and a computer for crash investigations. The goal is shorter traffic stops, faster crash scene work so roads reopen sooner, and better data to guide enforcement.
City of Portland · September 16, 2026 · Moved to a second reading on September 23, 2026. The listing shows the ordinance as passed, but no vote count was given.