Mayor Keith Wilson used a tiebreaking vote to pass a $10 million ordinance preserving 30 public safety jobs in Portland.
Mayor Keith Wilson cast a tiebreaking vote on Wednesday to pass a $10 million ordinance that preserves 30 jobs across Portland's public safety bureaus. The measure, which passed with a 10-2 vote, utilizes unspent general fund contingency dollars to reverse planned cuts in the fire and police departments. The centrist caucus successfully pushed the package forward, defeating a rival $18 million proposal from the progressive caucus. While the progressive plan would have saved 55 jobs, it was rejected because it required a larger budget and would have pressured the Office of Community-Based Police Accountability to underspend its $16 million budget. The decision sparked some friction among council members. Councilor Angelita Morillo criticized the centrist plan as fiscally irresponsible and noted that the council failed to reach a compromise. However, most progressives supported the final ordinance, viewing it as a practical solution to maintain city staffing. The two "no" votes were cast by Councilors Candace Avalos and Tiffany Koyama Lane.