Budget

The state might have enough money to fund core priorities. Or it might be scrambling to fill holes left by federal cuts.

It’s more lackluster news for Democratic lawmakers and the new governor who are already trying to close a sizable shortfall.

On Friday, Multnomah County opened the books on the Homeless Services Department’s budget – and confirmed others' concerns about how that money is spent.

A handful of budget bills proposed by Oregon state lawmakers would steer more than $420 million out the door for social services, wildfire and more.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and her natural resources adviser Geoff Huntington consider water quality and availability a top priority this legislative session. They’re particularly focused on addressing overdrawn water basins and ongoing issues with groundwater contamination in eastern Oregon and other critical groundwater areas in the state.

Portland State University is on track to close an $18 million budget gap this school year. But faculty and students are unhappy with how the university is getting there.

As Portland city councilors navigate their new roles in a revamped city government, they’re feeling shorthanded. On Wednesday, councilors will decide whether to expand their current budgets, which designates just one staffer each, to better meet their needs.

You’re going to hear a lot about school funding in 2025 – from the statehouse to your local schoolhouse.

The Portland Clean Energy Fund has now allocated more than $740 million to city bureaus, roughly half of its overall spending.

Oregon lawmakers will have a one-day special session this week before the legislature begins officially in January. The governor has called them there to allocate over $200 million dollars in emergency spending for this year’s unprecedented wildfire season. We’ll get a preview of the session with OPB’s Dirk VanderHart.