Ballot Language for PCL Renewal in May 2013

Question
Shall Portland continue abuse, neglect prevention, children's programs; five-year levy $0.4026 per $1,000 assessed value beginning 2014; require audits? This measure renews current local option taxes.

Summary
Renews the Portland Children's Levy; supports proven programs designed to prevent childhood hunger, prevent child abuse and neglect, help children arrive at school ready to learn, provide safe constructive after-school alternatives for kids and help foster children succeed.

Funds can only be used for:

  • Preventing childhood hunger: giving hungry children healthy, nutritious meals and food.
  • Child abuse prevention and intervention: addressing juvenile crime, school failure, drug and alcohol abuse, homeless youth.
  • Early childhood programs: making childcare more affordable and preparing children for success in school.
  • After-school, summer and mentoring programs: promoting academic achievement, reducing the number of juveniles victimized by crime, increasing graduation rates.
  • Children in foster care programs: helping foster children who have been abused and neglected succeed.

Accountability measures include:

  • Investments subject to annual audits.
  • Programs funded must be cost effective and have a proven record of success.
  • Investments subject to oversight by a citizen committee.
  • Administrative costs cannot exceed 5 percent.

It is estimated the levy will raise an average of $10.56 million per year for five years.

PCL Ballot Language in 2008 and 2002

November 2008
Measure 26-94: Renew five-year levy for Portland Children's Levy

Question 
Shall Portland continue supporting child abuse prevention, foster children, early childhood, after-school programs, renewing five-year levy starting 2009? This measure may cause property taxes to increase by more than 3 percent.

Summary 
Measure would continue financing Portland Children's Levy to support proven programs designed to help children arrive at school ready to learn, provide safe and constructive after-school alternatives for kids, helps foster children and prevent child abuse and neglect and family violence.

This Portland Children's Levy can only be used for:

  • Child abuse prevention and intervention, addressing juvenile crime, school failure, drug and alcohol abuse and homeless youth.
  • Early childhood programs making childcare more affordable and prepare children for success in school.
  • After-school, summer and mentoring programs: promoting academic achievement, reducing the number of juveniles victimized by crime and increasing graduation rates.
  • Children in foster care programs: helping foster children succeed who have been abused and neglected.

Accountability measures include:

  • Programs funded must be cost effective and have a proven record of success.
  • Investment fund subject to oversight by a citizen committee
  • Investment fund subject to annual audits.
  • Administrative costs cannot exceed 5 percent.

Levy is $0.4026 per $1,000 of assessed property value and produces an estimated $14 million per year for five years.

 

November 2002
Measure 26-33: Five-year levy for Portland Children's Levy.

Question 
Shall Portland support early childhood, after-school, child abuse programs; five-year levy $0.4026 per $1,000 assessed value beginning in 2003?

Summary 
Measure would finance Portland Children's Levy to support proven programs designed to help children arrive at school ready to learn, provide safe and constructive after-school alternatives for kids and prevent child abuse and neglect and family violence.

This Children's Investment Fund can only be used for:

  • Child abuse prevention and intervention, which addresses juvenile crime, school failure, drug and alcohol abuse and homeless youth.
  • Early childhood programs which make childcare more affordable and prepare children for success in school.
  • After-school and mentoring programs that promote academic achievement, reduce the number of juveniles victimized by crime and increase graduation rates.

Accountability measures include:

  • Programs funded must be cost effective and have a proven record of success.
  • Investment fund will be subject to annual audits.
  • Administrative costs cannot exceed 5 percent.

Levy produces an estimated $50 million over five years, averaging $10 million per year. Levy is $0.4026 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A home valued at $150,000 pays $5.03 per month, $60.39 per year.