ARTICLE
Portland is currently undergoing a contentious budgeting process in the wake of the election of a new City Council. Portland's Permitting & Development Bureau (formerly BDS) is facing a $16 million budget shortfall in 2025/26, leading to the potential elimination of 74 jobs, following previous staff reductions in 2024. HBA has serious concerns with the proposed layoffs. Portland already has difficulty meeting permitting goals and processing new development, and staffing shortages will only exacerbate that difficulty. Additionally, because of the burdensome city hiring process, small pool of qualified candidates, and lack of job stability, it will be difficult for the city to hire back or find new applicants for these positions when development in the city picks up again. HBA is planning to testify against the cuts at the upcoming City Budget hearings.