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Dear Neighbors,
Somehow, it’s March already, which means it’s almost budget season at City Hall. As many of you know, this year we’re looking at yet another general fund budget deficit of more than $66 million (calculated from the December 2025 forecast), which means staying engaged and fighting for our shared values will be more important than ever.
Key budget dates to know:
- Series of Budget Work Sessions focused on key budget topics throughout March
- Mayor's Proposed Budget released: No later than May 5 (likely mid-April)
- Budget approved: By May 20
- Final adoption: By June 18
I’m going into this process committed to protecting our parks, community centers, and beloved programs that make Portland a safe and livable city for youth, families and older adults. I’m also going to fight to make sure the wealthiest corporations are paying their fair share, which is why I’m working with Councilor Novick to revisit the "CEO tax" with an eye to generating significant new revenue for essential services.
But I also want to hear from you. What are your priorities for this budget? What programs and services do you most want to see protected or expanded?
In solidarity,
Mitch Green
 In February, Councilor Green's office met with SW Outreach volunteers - neighbors dedicated to connecting with and caring for unhoused neighbors by offering showers and laundry among their mutual aid efforts. Stay tuned for our conversations on the Multnomah Safe Rest Village. Follow them on Instagram.
Thursday Work Session on Housing Funds
Council will be holding a work session on the $40 million "Slow The Inflow" homelessness prevention package. This is a generational opportunity to use these one-time dollars to set ourselves on a path towards truly affordable housing for all. We need to spend these dollars on proven solutions that keep people housed now, and build towards a social housing model. That means:
- Rent assistance for those facing immediate eviction
- Eviction protection and legal services
- Most critically, Rent Buy-Downs (Video coming soon! Subscribe on YouTube here.)
Rent Buy-Downs represent the most cost-effective investment we can make. For about $60,000 per unit—a fraction of the $600,000+ it costs to build new housing—we can permanently reduce rents in existing affordable housing by around 18%, keeping hundreds of families stable for years to come. You can think of rent buy-downs as a down payment on Social Housing. It’s a step that models key principles of social housing—permanent affordability and decommodification—right now, investing in the housing we already have.
Celebrating Women's History Month
March is Women's History Month, and this year's theme is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” It’s an idea that resonates deeply with the work we do every day in this office to build a more just and equitable Portland for all women.
I encourage you to explore opportunities to learn, celebrate, and connect:
- Multnomah County Library offers three great ways to get inspired, including celebrating Oregon transwomen like athlete Ada Gallagher and advocate Billie McBride, and accessing curated book lists that includes titles like Ain't I a Woman Black Women and Feminism, I Will Live for Both of Us a History of Colonialism, Uranium Mining, and Inuit Resistance, Modern Herstory Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History, and much more.
- Portland Community College is hosting events throughout March, including empowerment workshops, feminist reading groups, and an International Women's Day Luncheon with keynote speaker Ximena Keogh Serrano exploring the radical power of love as a tool for collective transformation.
 Visit the new Multnomah County Library branch in Northwest (Slabtown) at 2030 NW Pettygrove Street. Hours, directions, and more information here.
Honoring Black History Month
During Black History Month, Portland City Council voted to commemorate the life of George Floyd and reaffirm the commitment to racial justice of the City of Portland. This resolution was introduced by Councilor Candace Avalos and Councilor Loretta Smith, and the resolution was passed on February 26th. I fully support this resolution as it is more important than ever to take sustained action towards racial justice, accountability, and restorative justice. Beyond Black History Month, our office reaffirms our year-round commitment to honoring the legacy, leadership, and contributions of Black Portlanders and the responsibility we have to align our policies, budget decisions, and institutional practices with racial justice by collaboratively engaging with Black Portlanders and organizations.
Portland City Council Holds Series of Budget Work Sessions
Portland City Council to Hold Priorities Setting Session
Letter from Councilor Green and Councilor Morillo to Mayor Keith Wilson and City Administrator Lee
City Council Creates New Committee Structure – Willamette Week
Critics Fear Mayor Could Sabotage New Detention Facility Law – Portland Mercury
 Councilor Green with KATU reporter Wright Gazaway at City Hall on March 3, 2026
Save this number: 1-888-622-1510. Call the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) hotline to report sightings of federal officers and ICE activity in Oregon.
ICE Facility and Protest Actions: We've collected testimonies and evidence from those impacted by ICE violence. If you were harmed at a protest or have other incidents to report, please contact our office at councilor.green@portlandoregon.gov. All submissions become part of public record. Most importantly, several organizations want to build the case against federal overreach and violence, and they want to hear from you so they can help. Report concerns related to federal actions to the Oregon Department of Justice and Attorney General Dan Rayfield.
Judge Michael Simon issued a temporary restraining order last month (that's now been extended) barring agents from using chemical munitions like tear gas.
We also encourage you to use ACLU of Oregon Complaint Form to report constitutional violations. Send pictures, video, and a written account of what happened at the Macadam Facility on Saturday, January 31 (and all other dates and instances) to the National Lawyer's Guild in Portland: pdxlegalobserver@nlg.org.
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March 5, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | City Council Work Session
Unbudgeted Housing Funds
March 5, 2026, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | City Council Work Session
FY 2025-26 Expenditure Forecast & Spring Technical Adjustment Ordinance
March 7, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | City Council Work Session
March 9, 2026, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting
Agenda published on Friday
March 10, 2026, 9:30 – 11:30 am | Arts and Economy Committee Meeting
Agenda published on Friday
March 11, 2026, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 pm | City Council Meeting
Service Area Budget Overviews & Discussion, Public Works, City Administrator's office, and City Operations
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