I Scream. You Scream. We All Scream.

[May 21st, 2008]

The shrieking racket over Portland’s $33 million general fund surplus continues on June 4 at Portland City Hall.

Once again, Mayor Tom Potter stands alone on the four-person City Council. His proposed budget focused on public safety and punishes Commissioners Sam Adams and Randy Leonard (we’ll just call the duo “Adnard”), who allied to produce an “alternative” budget with more funding for social services, transportation and the arts. Since the Council is down to four people until voters pick a replacement for Erik Sten, any hope for compromise rests with Commissioner Dan Saltzman (see “Communication Breakdown,” WW, May 14).

But we can’t forget all the people outside City Hall who have a stake. Like kids begging for candy, those making more noise are more likely to get the goods. We’ve ranked some of the more disputed budget items by decibel level, provided an equivalent of that sound and gauged the likelihood of success based on that scream—it’s scientific, see?

ARTS EDUCATION

110 dB: The Decemberists at the Obama rally.

At stake: $200,000 for arts education. Potter’s initial budget denied a request for $150,000 for a yet-to-be-launched “Arts Partners” program in local public schools. This single issue drew 322 calls and emails to the mayor’s office, as a result of an email blast from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, a nonprofit whose Council liaison is Adams. Potter then agreed to fund the program. But Adnard’s “alternative” budget would give the RACC $200,000 for Arts Partners—$50,000 more than the original request.

Chances of success: Good. It’s for the kids.

TENNIS

80 dB: City budget planners screaming into their pillows.

At stake: $164,000 for public tennis programs. Potter’s budget tried to end support for the Portland Tennis Center and St. Johns Racquet Center. The result was the season’s first sleeper political shitstorm. Potter’s office counted 75 comments on his proposed tennis cuts; the racquet-eers had the best turnout at a May 8 public hearing. Adnard’s proposal would fund the parks bureau’s $94,000 request and provide another $70,000 for court maintenance, $164,000 in total along with a private match.

Chances of success: High. Tennis buffs vote.

WAGES

70 dB: A homeless protest outside City Hall.

At stake: $500,000 in modest wage increases of 3 percent to contractors’ employees. The city contracts with nonprofits like Central City Concern to hook hard-luck people up with housing, drug treatment and the like. Usually, contractors work out cost-of-living increases for employees with the city housing bureau in advance of a budget. This year, that didn’t happen. So organizations lobbied the council for a cost-of-living increase, reflected in Adnard’s budget.

Chances of success: Low. Why use contractors if not to keep wages down?

IFCC

55 dB: A very squeaky bicycle wheel.

At stake: $80,000 to subsidize the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. Potter’s decision not to fund the IFCC, a 25-year-old theater space, gallery and arts classroom in North Portland, sparked 73 emails, a smattering of news articles and a solid public hearing turnout. Potter has tried to keep IFCC out of the budget for three years running. Once again, Adnard wants the center funded. The center’s survival isn’t at stake, but cuts could force it to drop some education programs.

Chances of success: Good. Saltzman, the key vote, is in charge of parks.

NEW POLICE LAPTOPS

20 dB: Police union chief Robert King whispering to Potter.

At stake: $1.4 million for new laptops. The cops say the laptops in their patrol cars are “obsolete.” They want new Panasonic Toughbooks, which would give them Web access and electronic reporting. The mayor’s proposal included $439,000 a year of ongoing funding to cover maintenance costs for the new computers; Adnard is OK with the purchase, but wants the cops to fund the maintenance costs from elsewhere in their $152.5 million budget.

Chances of success: A given. Pols can’t say no to a man in uniform.