Portland voters appear to be approving a ballot measure to renew the city’s gas tax for another four years.
The 10-cent-per-gallon tax funds street and sidewalk maintenance and safety projects across Portland. The city estimates the tax will cost the average Portland driver who uses gas-powered vehicles about $2.50 per month.
A driver holds cash out of the window of their car while waiting to pay a gas station attendant to pump their gas in this Aug. 4, 2023 file photo in Portland.
Claire Rush / AP
In partial returns, the measure had 69% support on Tuesday as of 8:01 p.m.
If passed, the expected $70 million generated by the tax will patch a significant hole in the city’s transportation budget, saving at least 45 city employees from layoffs.
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Along with preserving jobs, the four-year spending plan sets aside $24 million for street paving, $9 million to improve pedestrian safety on busy streets, $6 million to fix potholes and $4 million to maintain street lights and signals, among other projects.
The city’s gas tax was introduced in 2016, and renewed by voters in 2020. It has generated nearly $150 million for the transportation bureau over eight years.
The measure has widespread support from business organizations, elected officials and labor groups. The Taxpayer Association of Oregon was the only group to formally oppose the tax renewal.