My reflections on the 2026-27 budget amendment process

Councilors Ryan, Dunphy, and Clark on the dais during 2026-27 budget amendment deliberations.

I entered this year's proposed budget amendment meetings with hope that we could restore the devasting cuts to our core services in public safety, namely Police and Fire & Rescue. Important to this conversation is that service-sustaining revenues from business license and property taxes are declining or flat, while fixed costs continue to rise. As such, I knew that cuts, staff lay-offs, and sacrifices were inevitable. 

As a fiscal steward for hard-working, tax-paying Portlanders, I had to vote "no" on many proposed amendments. There is simply no unallocated money in the 2026-27 budget. I was conflicted about many amendments because I support what they were proposing to do—but not with the funding sources identified. These trade-off decisions are the hard work we signed up for when we took these City Council seats.

As an experienced executive in both the private and nonprofit sectors, I'm protective of the City's reserve funds. They are vital for getting us through uncertainty in the years ahead. My approach puts me at odds with a number of my colleagues who consider reserve funds as having more flexible uses. Unfortunately, their approach could put the City's future financial stability in jeopardy—something that was confirmed by the City's CFO Jonas Biery during budget deliberations when he said, "The one thing that rating agencies called out that could make [our bond] rating go down is a reduction in reserves." When reserve fund balances fall below 15%, it can signal distress and result in higher interest rates on municipal bonds. Meaning, if our fiscal health declines and our rating goes down, the City will pay more interest in the future. It's like an individual's credit score going down. I will continue to fight for fiscal responsibility, and I will continue to keep my focus on our shared future.

Councilor Ryan with Portland Police Officer Monsef of the North Precinct on May 8, 2026.

Multiple City of Portland public safety bureaus, including Fire & Rescue Station 22, responding to a call at the St. Johns Bridge on May 8, 2026.

During this week's discussions, I was pleased that many of my colleagues also wanted to restore public safety cuts, but I was disappointed with the lack of broad support to restore cuts to the Police Bureau. Cuts to the Public Safety Support Specialist (PS3) program will roll back progress made over the recent years to improve police response times and fight organized crime. I have heard the pleas from businesses and families, calling for improved safety and security. I hear you and I will keep fighting. I am cautiously optimistic that all of my Council colleagues and Mayor Wilson will listen to the community and support the restoration of PS3s. We need to discontinue Portland's legacy of defunding police because it was always a slogan—never a solution.

Some highlights from this week's three budget meetings, spanning 30 hours of deliberation and debate, include: 

• I proposed an amendment to restore funding for Portland Fire & Rescue's Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT) Program through making cuts to City Council office and operations budgets. This would've required City Council share in the budget sacrifices that our city's operations are making. This amendment failed 4-8. In fact, all attempts to cut Council office budgets failed.
• I co-sponsored an amendment with Councilors Clark, Novick, Pirtle-Guiney, and Smith that would have restored critical Fire & Rescue and Police services, including funding for Fire Station 22, by borrowing from projected underspending in the Office of Police Accountability. The amendment failed 6-6. Let me be clear, I am 100% supportive of building the Office of Police Accountability. I am not supportive of watching millions sit idle and that could be used for urgent public safety needs. 
• Councilor Kanal put forward a budget amendment to restore funding to St. John's Fire Station 22 through tapping the Business License Tax Reserve Fund. I didn't support it because it will deplete the City's reserve funds below the established standards and risk downgrading our bond rating which could result in greater future costs. The amendment passed 7-5. 
• I voted to support Councilor Smith's funding for workforce investments, including one amendment to restore the SummerWorks Program and another for the Inclusive Business Resource Network (IBRN). These amendments would have been catalytic for economic development and wealth-building, while supporting youth in the workforce. The SummerWorks amendment passed 12-0, and the IBRN amendment passed by 10-2.
• I was a "no" vote on Morillo-Green-Novick 1, which would have paused the City's ongoing core realignment process. As part of charter reform, voters made it clear they wanted the City to de-silo and find efficiencies. It's highly complex work that requires difficult trade-offs. The amendment failed 6-6.
• I was proud to defend Portland's economic comeback by standing strong with colleagues, Councilors Clark, Novick, Pirtle-Guiney, Smith and Zimmerman, to vote down amendments that would have made further cuts to camp removals, overnight shelters, 24-hour villages with services, and storefront support programs. I want entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers to invest in my hometown so we can improve our struggling economy. 

Supporting storefront businesses is a priority for me because I want entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers to invest in my hometown.

I have been in office since 2020 making tough decisions to bring back a safe, clean and vibrant city. I will keep fighting until we are once again known as one of the nation’s most livable cities.

Have a joyful and safe holiday weekend, and a great start to Portland Rose Festival. 🌹

Sincerely,

Dan

Taking time to smell the roses during a quick, 10-minute break during amid budget amendment conversations.

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