Q: What is the Portland Children’s Levy?
A: In 2002, Portland voters made children a higher priority by creating the Portland Children’s Levy. The Levy annually supports 16,000 of Portland’s neediest children through 67 local programs focusing on early childhood education, after school and mentoring and child abuse prevention and intervention. At least 50 percent of children served by the Fund live under the Federal Poverty Level, and may otherwise grow up without a healthy start. Its programs have: Improved academic achievement; Increased school attendance; Decreased behavioral problems; Reduced the amount of child abuse in the city.
Q: Why is this important?
A: Simply put, the Portland Children’s Levy works- it truly is a cost effective investment in our future. The health and vitality of Portland is linked to the well being of its children and families. Unfortunately, our children face a host of challenges including widespread poverty, juvenile violence and child abuse. Failure to address these problems hurts our public safety, limits long-term economic development and undermines the city’s ability to attract and retain families with children to retain our schools and vital neighborhoods. Leading economic experts agree that early childhood education has the highest return of any public investment- as much as $17 is saved for every dollar spent. The average cost to jail a juvenile offender is $59,000 per year.
Q: How does it work? And how much does it cost?
A: City home-owners support the Portland Children’s Levy through a property tax of $0.4026 per $1000 of assessed property value, or about $5 per month for the average home in Portland. The Fund is expected to generate approximately $14 million a year for the next 5 years. The Children’s Levy is annually audited and administrative costs cannot exceed 5 percent of revenues.
Q: Why were these four areas chosen for investment?
A: These areas were chosen because they are areas which were identified as having great need, and because research shows that investments in these areas pays off both in improvements to kids lives and long term savings to the community.
Q: Why does the Children’s Levy have to be renewed?
A: State law limits collection of a property tax levy to no more than five years. Because the Children’s Levy is a property tax levy it must be renewed every five years.
Q: Where does the money go? How are investment decisions made?
A: Investments are made in cost-effective and proven programs that focus on early childhood education, after school and mentoring, abuse prevention and intervention and helping children in foster care succeed. Organizations receive funding through a competitive process. They must have a track record of success, be cost effective and achieve positive results for children. A five-member Citizens Oversight Committee meets publicly to make funding decisions.
Q: Are there any changes to be expected?
A: While there is no change in the taxation rate for homeowners, the Fund is expected to generate more money than when it was initially passed due to increased property values. With that in mind, Portland City Council decided to include a fourth investment category- helping children in foster care succeed. Investments will be made in all four areas: Early Childhood Education; After School and Mentoring; Abuse Prevention and Intervention; and Helping Children in Foster Care Succeed.
Q: In 2002, you promised to leverage additional funds- have you kept your promise?
A: Yes. To stretch tax dollars, the Children’s Levy created a $3 million Leverage Fund to match public dollars with private dollars to maximize community impact and create more resources for Portland’s children.
Q: The ballot language from 2002 said that administrative costs would be kept under 5 percent, and that there would be accountability to Portland’s citizens. Have you kept up with your promises to tax payers?
A: Yes, the Levy is subject to annual audits, and administrative costs have been kept under 5 percent. Click these links for the .pdfs 
of the Annual Report and an Independent Audit.
Q: How can I help pass Measure 26-94?
A: There are a lot of ways you can help the effort to pass Measure 26-94. For starters, you can talk with your friends and neighbors about the Children’s Levy and encourage them to continue supporting it. You can also volunteer to help with the campaign. Click here to get involved.
Q: What organizations have been supported by the Children’s Levy?
A: Since its creation in 2002, the Fund has supported the following organizations:
After School and Mentoring Investments
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Portland
The Boys and Girls Aid Society
The Bridge Builders
Friends of the Children
Metropolitan Family Services
Portland State University - Chicano/Latino Studies Dept.
Portland Impact
REAP
SMART (Leverage Fund)
Trillium Family Services
Urban League of Portland
Boys and Girls Aid Society
Boys and Girls Club (Leverage Fund)
Camp Fire USA
Chess for Success
Community Cycling Center
Ethos Inc.
Girls Inc. of NW Oregon
IRCO
LifeWorks NW
NAYA Family Center
Open Meadow
Oregon Health Career Center
Portland Impact
Portland Public Schools
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center
Self Enhancement, Inc.
Tears of Joy Theatre
Saturday Academy (Leverage Fund)
Child Abuse Prevention/ Intervention Investments
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Portland
Catholic Charities El Programa Hispano
Children's Relief Nursery
Christie School- Multnomah County Children's Receiving Center
LifeWorks NW- Family & Community Alliance and Youth Support Team
Listen to Kids
Metamorphosis Project (Janus Youth Programs)
Native American Rehabilitation Association
Salvation Army West Women's & Children's Shelter
Volunteers of America- Family Relief Nursery
Juvenile Rights Project (Leverage Fund)
Early Childhood Investments
Albertina Kerr Centers
Albina Early Head Start
Hacienda CDC
Cascade Aids Project
Child Care Improvement Project
Friendly House Preschool
Housing Authority of Portland
Immigration & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Insight Teen Parent Program
Morrison Child & Family Services
Mt. Hood Community College Head Start
Native American Rehabilitation Association
Neighborhood House
Portland Community College Child Development Center
Portland Impact
Portland Public Schools Head Start
Library Foundation (Leverage Fund)
Peninsula Children's Center (Leverage Fund)
