Portland Mayor Keith Wilson delivered a message of hope in the midst of uncertainty at his first State of the City address Friday.

“I’m filled with optimism about Portland’s future and our ability to solve the issues we now face,” said Wilson, addressing a crowded auditorium in Southeast Portland’s Franklin High School. “I continue to believe our best days are ahead of us.”

Four months into his first job in political office, Wilson remains upbeat about his ability to address the city’s biggest issues in the middle of a budget deficit.

In his speech, Wilson pointed to a few early actions he’s proud of, from opening new overnight shelters to lobbying the Legislature for a longshot effort to bring a Major League Baseball team to Portland. He also previewed details of his first proposed budget as mayor, which will be made public Monday.

Wilson entered office with a projected $65 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year budget, which begins on July 1. That number has since ballooned to at least $93 million due to new spending on Wilson’s shelter plan.

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To balance the budget, Wilson said, he had to make “agonizing” decisions. “There’s no easy way to say this,” he said, “but we’re entering a period of layoffs.”

He has not yet made public how many jobs are on the chopping block. But he’s announced a plan to cut 20% of the budget for departments that handle communications, public engagement, technology, equity, and others.

Cuts to larger bureaus, like Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland Permitting & Development and Portland Bureau of Transportation, have also been floated during early budget talks.

Wilson did point to some jobs and programs that aren’t on the cut list.

On Friday, he said that the city’s youth sports programs and community centers will remain funded. Wilson said he’s also adding funds to expanding staffing at Portland Street Response and in the Police Bureau, and will keep the precariously funded programs to address gun violence whole.

Along with layoffs, Wilson announced other ways he’s aiming to raise more revenue to cut expenses.

“We’re also going to raise or reinstate certain fees,” Wilson said. That includes new price hikes to rideshare companies, Airbnb, and people who golf at city-owned courses.

He also called on state and local governments to pitch in.

“No single government body can solve this crisis alone,” Wilson said. The Metro Council and Multnomah County Board have already promised money to support Wilson’s shelter plan. Wilson has expressed confidence that the state government will also help patch holes in his shelter budget.

Wilson has pledged to open 1,500 new shelter beds by December. Only 250 of those beds have opened so far. On Friday, however, he said the city will soon open two more shelters, bringing him 230 beds closer to his goal.

He characterized his plan as a line of defense against President Donald Trump’s vow to move people experiencing homelessness into government camps.

“It is increasingly clear that if we fail to act, we risk mission takeover by an administration that does not share our values or compassion,” he said.

Wilson dismissed one new revenue proposal floating through City Hall: a pitch to expand the voter-approved Portland Clean Energy Fund to bolster the city’s budget.

Councilor Steve Novick and others have proposed increasing that rate of that voter-approved tax on big retailers, and using that extra revenue to reinforce the city’s general fund.

“We voted for the Portland Clean Energy Fund to meet our climate goals, pure and simple,” Wilson said. “Keeping that promise means we must not tap it for an unrelated crisis.”

City councilors will have an opportunity to propose amendments to Wilson’s budget once it’s released next week.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/02/portland-mayor-keith-wilson-delivers-optimistic-state-of-the-city-address/