This measure will finally give Portland the police staffing and resources to get public safety right, without raising new taxes. Not just more police, but better policing. It amends the city charter to establish a policy that Portland will have 2.0 officers per 1,000 residents – an increase from 1.2 officers today, which is half the national average for major cities.

In addition, the measure dedicates funding, using surplus dollars from an existing 1% tax on corporate retailers, to recruit, train and hire the next generation of Portland Police officers. Along with more officers who are committed to serving our community, will come enhanced training, faster 911 emergency response times and the ability to implement long sought reforms and improvements in police practices.

Right now, the biggest barrier to ending open air drug markets and ensuring safe sidewalks, parks and neighborhoods in Portland is inadequate police staffing. Portland currently has 1.2 officers per 1,000 residents – half the national average. Put another way, Portland has roughly the same number of police officers as the early 1990s. Too few officers results in dangerously long 911 emergency response times. Portland’s police chief has repeatedly warned that Portland needs more trained officers for a safer city.

Portland currently has around 812 sworn officers. This measure will fund 400 new officers over the next several years. Portland currently ranks 47th out of 50 largest cities in police per capita. This measure will close that gap.

In the past two years, the recruitment and hiring of new officers in Portland is up, but in an organization of 800+ people there are always vacant or open positions due to retirements and the time it takes to recruit and train new officers. Right now, vacancies represent less than 10% of the total police force. Even if every vacant position were immediately filled, the Portland Police Bureau would still be dramatically understaffed.

With adequate staffing, Portland will be safer and policing in Portland will be better.

First, unacceptably long emergency response times will get much faster. Right now, the average priority response time in Portland is 20 minutes – twice what it was just a few years ago. In an emergency, every second counts. Slow response puts lives at risk and allows violent situations to escalate. Additional officers will reduce response times.

Second, Portland will finally be able to restore community policing to serve every neighborhood in the city. Community-based policing is where officers are on-foot and on bikes working directly in neighborhoods to prevent crime and build community relationships and trust. Portland streets, neighborhoods, business districts and parks will be safer with a greater presence of offices in the community.

Third, Portland will have enough officers to implement and expand policing reforms where officers work alongside mental health professionals – so the right responder shows up for the right situation no matter the crisis. As public safety has become more complex, you can’t do more with less. This measure finally gives Portland the resources to get an interwoven, interconnected public safety system right.

No. It is funded using 25% from an existing 1% tax on corporate retailers.

The City of Portland can fully implement this measure using surplus funding from an existing 1% tax on corporate retailers – the Clean Energy Surcharge. The tax was projected to raise $30-$50 million a year – it now raises close to $200 million a year. The city has the money. By dedicating 25% of this existing tax to public safety, Portland can finally have the police staffing it needs and the improved policing it deserves, without raising taxes.

Last year, an independent community task force appointed by the Governor studied this tax and the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) and recommended that voters be given the chance to dedicate a portion of its “excess” revenues to other “urgent city priorities.” This initiative guarantees that 25% will be used to enhance public safety.

Over the past two years, the mayor and city council have cut funding for police and public safety. This year, the mayor proposed a $21 million cut to public safety – eliminating 35 positions, including 80% of the unarmed specialists who respond to property crimes. Portland currently ranks #2 in property crimes in the nation. Many, but not all, members of the city council have expressed no interest in addressing Portland’s police staffing crisis. This problem will only be fixed by the people through this citizen-led ballot measure.

Currently, PCEF is receiving about $200 million a year from an existing 1% tax on corporate retails. This measure dedicates 25% of the PCEF taxes each year to bring police staffing in Portland closer to the national average. Right now, police staffing in Portland is half the national average. This measure maintains funding for all PCEF related city climate related projects and allows for future spending increases. This measure is win-win: it maintains funding for critical climate projects, increases funding for public safety – and doesn’t raise new taxes on Portlanders.

The city has the money. That’s because the existing 1% tax that funds PCEF is generating 5 times what it was originally projected. When it was created, it was projected to raise $30-$50 million a year but now raises about $200 a million a year. Because it raises more than it can spend, PCEF even has about $750 million sitting unused in the bank. Past city councils have voted to spend PCEF dollars for general fund items and this year the mayor proposed using $75 million to fund renovations of the Moda Center.

Only the city council and Portland voters have the legal authority to dedicate and appropriate PCEF dollars. Recommended “allocations” of current and future PCEF funds are just that – a desired wish list. Each year, the city council must vote to appropriate PCEF tax dollars just like any other taxes collected by the city government. Ultimately, when Portland is safer and more economically vibrant, this measure will result in even more taxes and funding for PCEF - not less. The only difference between this measure and proposals from local politicians to spend PCEF dollars is that this initiative asks permission from the voters.