Date: May 13, 2025
Summary
During the Portland City Council work session on May 13, 2025, council members and Children’s Levy staff engaged in a detailed briefing and discussion about the Children’s Levy awards. The session focused on the process that led to the current recommendations for funding allocations, highlighting the extensive volunteer and community engagement efforts that informed these decisions. Key issues discussed included the impact of a 21% drop in projected funding due to decreased property tax revenues, and the increased demand for grants, which saw a 45% rise in applications. Council members raised concerns about the criteria for awarding grants, particularly the balance between supporting smaller, newer organizations versus established ones, and how diversity, equity, and inclusion are integrated with measures of program effectiveness. The session concluded with plans for a vote on the recommendations at the council meeting scheduled for May 21, 2025, emphasizing the importance of this funding in supporting children and families in Portland, especially in the context of current economic challenges.
Key Points
- Discussion on the awards from the Children’s Levy and the process leading to council decisions.
- Extensive discussion on the inclusion of smaller, newer organizations in the funding process and the balance between new and established organizations.
- Concerns and clarifications about the criteria used for awarding grants, particularly around diversity, equity, inclusion, and organizational effectiveness.
Watch Full Meeting
No votes were recorded in this meeting.
Action Items
- Further discussions and clarifications to be held regarding the balance and criteria used for grant allocations.
- City Council to vote on the allocation committee’s package in the upcoming council meeting on May 21, 2025.