The Portland Parks levy won voters’ approval last week, but city officials shouldn’t feel too victorious over its passage.

No one should celebrate a 75% increase in the parks tax rate on Portlanders already stretched thin amid an affordability and housing crisis. The fact that Portland city leaders pitched this measure as a stark choice between paying more or forcing deep cuts to programs and jobs does not bode well for how they will seek to solve the many other funding dilemmas facing the city. And the results of the low-turnout election, while easily enough for Measure 26-260 to pass, are cause for reflection: Without any organized opposition, the measure secured just under 56% approval – eight points lower than support for the previous parks levy in 2020 .

City leaders should hear

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