Portland Mayor's budget discussions turn to balancing law enforcement 'equation'

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As Mayor Keith Wilson's proposed budget faces scrutiny, city councilors put it to the test during a Portland Public Safety Meeting at city hall Tuesday.

This comes as Mayor Wilson pitched his $8.54 billion budget to his colleagues last week. He sat down with KOIN 6 Political Director Ken Boddie during Eye on Northwest Politics, where he explained his ideas for public safety within that budget. 

"We are plussing up the police bureau by $2 million, with the expectation of adding more officers to the street and also adding more missions. But on the counter side of that, we are also working with Portland police to reduce overtime," Mayor Wilson said. 

In the hot seat were Portland's law enforcement leaders, including Portland Police Chief Bob Day. 

Councilors at the meeting ironed out different ways to move the mayor's funds around within the Portland Police Bureau. District 3 councilor Steve Novick pitched his ideas at Tuesday's meeting. 

"I had the idea to cut the police budget by $3 million, reflecting the savings I think, that they could get by ceasing to have armed officers go to, quote, welfare checks," Novick told KON 6 News. 

Councilor Novick said too many armed officers are going to calls where they aren't needed. He said he has discussed different ideas with Chief Day. 

"Overall, I would rather the police bureau have more resources. I think, for example, they should have a ten-person burglary unit to crack down on burglaries," he said. "In a year when we're cutting budgets, where we are slashing the parks maintenance budget, I think that it's reasonable for the police bureau to take a bit of a cut, if especially when it seems like they're doing something that's wasteful."

In a recent poll, about 42% if Portlanders surveyed said they don't want more money for police; in previous stories, Portlanders have told KOIN 6 News that more officers would make them feel less safe. 

Chief Day said Mayor Wilson has been clear in his expectations. He also said he remains focused on beefing up staff, amping up retention rates, and reducing crime across the city. 

"We want to continue to be aggressive and intentional about looking for alternatives to provide that sense of safety. But there is a core component that relates to law enforcement in this equation that we have to be a part of," Chief Day said.