About the Portland Children's Levy

The Levy is a City of Portland initiative that annually generates $20 million through a property tax of $0.4026 per $1,000 assessed valuation, or about $60 a year for a home with an assessed value of $150,000. 95 cents of every dollar goes directly into proven children's programs throughout the city. The Levy is annually audited and administrative expenses cannot exceed 5 percent of revenues.

The Portland Children's Levy grew out of a need to increase children’s access to proven programs that support positive early development, school engagement and academic achievement, high school graduation, and family safety and stability. Portland voters approved the first Levy in 2002, and overwhelmingly renewed it for the third time in Spring 2018. The current Levy began July 2019 and runs through June 2024 . See the Portland City Council Ordinance referring the Levy to voters, ballot language and Act governing Levy operations here.

Programs are funded through a competitive application process. See a full list of 2020-23 PCL investments and funding amounts.

Our Program Areas