Facing another budget shortfall, the City of Portland is once again considering laying off staff, and city unions are again rallying around a unified push for the city to consider alternatives. City unions are calling for the city to curtail the use of expensive outside contractors and take a hard look at management bloat.
Deliberations began when Portland Mayor Keith Wilson submitted his budget proposal to Portland City Council April 20. The proposal called for the elimination of 145 positions and other measures to close an estimated $163 million gap between projected revenue and operating expenses. That number of staff reductions shrinks under various budget amendments considered by city council. The final budget is expected to go before City Council June 17.
A worker-led protest is set to take place outside City Hall at noon Saturday, June 6. Dubbed the Renaissance Faire Rallye (a take on the mayor’s call for Portland’s need for a new renaissance) it will feature costumes and face-painting.
