Portland Voters Reject Participatory Budgeting Measure
Preliminary results show Measure 26-267, which would dedicate city funds to resident-selected projects, trailing widely in Portland.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Civic Engagement
Live Poll
Should Portland residents get a direct binding vote on how city money is spent?
Preliminary election results show about 67% of Portland voters opposed Measure 26-267, while about 33% voted yes. The measure would have required the City Council to dedicate at least 2% of General Fund discretionary expenses to resident-selected projects.
Why it matters
The measure would have created a participatory budgeting program allowing residents to submit and help choose city projects. Opponents questioned whether the city can afford the commitment amid ongoing budget pressures and raised concerns about shifting money away from existing services.
Preliminary returns show 33% yes and 67% no, based on roughly 36% of ballots counted by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Roughly 64% of Multnomah County ballots remained uncounted, and the final outcome is not yet certain.
The players
Mayor Keith Wilson
Mayor of Portland, Oregon, who opposes the measure and leads the city's executive branch.
The details
Under Measure 26-267, residents could submit ideas for citywide or district-level projects, which city staff and budget delegates would assess and narrow to a limited number of feasible options. The city estimates the commitment would cost about $16.4 million in fiscal year 2027-28, and the measure does not specify a funding source or how delegates would be selected.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Preliminary early results released showing the measure trailing.
Fiscal year 2027-28: Projected start of funding if the measure were approved.
Civic Engagement Context
Measure 26-267, also called the "Your 2 Cents" initiative, sought to amend Portland's city charter to create participatory budgeting, a process letting residents directly shape how public money is spent. The preliminary rejection signals voter skepticism toward binding charter commitments amid tight city finances.
If the measure is ultimately approved after the count is finished, the city would have to fund the program starting in fiscal year 2027-28 and shift money from existing budgets. Residents would face a new process for proposing and choosing local projects, but the rejection in preliminary results means current budget decisions remain with city leaders.
The takeaway
Measures that commit ongoing city money can face scrutiny when budgets are tight, so voters weigh the funding source alongside the promise of resident input. Watch for final certified counts before assuming the outcome is settled.
Further reading
For more on how residents shape local decisions, explore Civic Engagement coverage for Portland.
Live Poll
Should Portland residents get a direct binding vote on how city money is spent?
