PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland’s transportation bureau, which is facing a $32 million deficit, plans to increase enforcement on parking and expired vehicle tags.
At a budget session this week, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) laid out a plan to get its $32 million shortfall down to $4.6 million and avoid laying off 118 city employees. The agency wants to hire 28 new parking officers: six to patrol for expired vehicle registrations and the rest for patrolling parking meters.
"It would be a very important and less-than-painful pinch point for people than I believe is anticipated or expected," said Millicent Williams, PBOT's director. "In fact, what we learned is most people don’t know how much they pay for parking."
PBOT said tackling parking infractions could bring in $5.5 million in just the next year. The agency is also planning on adding a credit card fee on parking meters, causing a 20-cent jump.
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During the session, Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed concerns about raising the cost of parking.
"We can agree to disagree, but the reality is that Portland is becoming a very expensive place to live," said Wheeler. "It's not just because of property taxes — and we know this because we measured it. It has to do with taxes, it has to do with fees, it has to do with the cost of rent, it has to do with the cost of housing.”
Meanwhile, Liliana Huerta, a Salem resident who parks downtown twice a week, expressed discontent with the planned proposal.
"Just that increase would be a little discouraging to stop and shop," said Huerta. "I would rather do it out somewhere else where I can park and not be charged an extra fee."
PBOT has until Feb. 16 to submit its final budget request. Wheeler and the city council will approve the fiscal budget this summer.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that PBOT would increase registration costs. PBOT does not have authority to increase vehicle registration fees. That is controlled by the state legislature. PBOT's plan is to increase vehicle registration enforcement.