No on Multnomah’s 26-261: Historical Society property tax is awry

Taxpayers Association recommends No vote on 26-261.
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

We support more funding for the Historical Society!

But … people are afraid to go downtown.

– Downtown visitor foot traffic down 75%.
– A million less visits.

The issue is crime:

– Nation’s #2 top property/vandalism crime rate.
– Nation’s 5th highest auto theft.

If you vote for Measure 26-261, then you must also vote for ways to restore Portland police and Multnomah police to their full functional levels. Otherwise, you are raising taxes to fund something that people are unwilling to visit. Nearly 50,000 vehicles have been stolen over the past decade, and many people are afraid to return, despite progress. The Taxpayers Association opposes raising taxes to fund ancillary projects while under-funding life-saving emergency services.

Consider the fact that Portlanders have raised their property taxes to pay for some of the most expensive school buildings the nation, only to watch enrollment drop.

The best thing we can do for the Oregon Historical Society is to create a safe downtown so they can flourish. Fund our courageous and heroic police first, then fund supplementary projects.

Taxpayers Association recommends No vote on 26-261.

Sources: Portland Metro Chamber report 2/25, Security.org using FBI data 10/10/25, 2024 year KATU 1/12/26, “Portland auto thefts by year” The Oregonian.