Yeah! Gotta like those apples!

The same thing needs to happen with Parks so they stop being the Landscape contractors for the local developers maintain the systems for kids and the neighborhoods

How many money measures will be on the November ballot?

I sure hope that library bond passes. Otherwise where will the homeless get their porn?

Where will the dependent class get free movies, free music and free baby sitting?

"Vote yes ... bums need their porn too"

A slippery slope around tax limits. This will end up with bureaus / institutions having direct taxing authority beyond what we have tried to limit.

Parks has for years been trying to find a way out of the non revenue end of things.

Would you pay to use your parks when you already own them?

Parks has no future unless we pry it out of the hands of the development mafia and their elected minions. It has already been cut to shreds and we have people at the top of these organizations pronouncing that we "have enough natural areas" because the development mafia has its teeth sharpened for West Hayden Island.

Imagine a summer with 100 free 12 hr per day kids programs out there? That is about what Portland used to take for granted.

This is just creating another color of money that Multnomah County will use to explain why they can't do something they don't want to do while spending away on their pet projects.

Commissioners and staff will figure out a way to make a win out of this. Gaming the assessment for centrally provided services or facilities charges comes to mind. Or using it as an excuse not to something tangentially library related. "Hey, you want it? You'll have to pay for it out of the library district." They've got 365 days a year to weasel it their way.

The Library District will pass with at least 65% of the voters. I would guess that it costs the Arts Levy at least 10%, and the PPS construction bond about 5%.

Only the very poor and the very wealthy will vote YES on all three measures: the middle class simply can't afford to approve all 3. U6 unemployment is above 15%, ACCORDING TO THE BLS, and is likely much higher if you were to seek out those making 30% less income than 5 years ago. That's the wrong economic background to ask voters to approve three bond measures: Portland's Socialists are devoid of common sense.

The little O came out today castigating the commissioners for putting this on the ballot. They must be worried about the $ they'll get from the other two measures should they pass. Plus all the "free" reporting when the school district puts out their press releases about the schools they're currently working on.

What I want to know is, will my county taxes go down by an amount equal to the new library tax?

The biggest hurdle to this measure, in my opinion, is that people are learning to distrust government. If this passes, I see it as TWO ways for the county to suck away my money rather than just one.

When cream off the top has been skimmed, the community as a whole will suffer, where people will have to pay more and more and get less and less.

Imagine a summer with 100 free 12 hr per day kids programs out there? That is about what Portland used to take for granted.

dyspeptic,
Very interesting. When was that and how does that compare with today's summer programs?
Several years ago, I heard complaints about the wading pools being closed I think for lack of people observing for safety. In any event, how nice those were and would be on hot days coming up. Of course, those were free for the children to use, not revenue generating. Not all families can afford to pay for the swimming pools. I guess Jamison Square can have fancier outdoor fountains, but the neighborhood wading pools are closed?
Maybe some are open now, I do not know the latest status.

It would also be interesting to know the comparisons of services offered throughout the years in our library system and when hours began to dwindle, etc. I would also like to know the status of our valuable books, I have heard some have been sold.

Several years ago, I heard complaints about the wading pools being closed I think for lack of people observing for safety.

It may have been partly about safety, but also it was (or so it was claimed) that they were shut down due to public health concerns around standing pools of water breeding all sorts of nasties. IIRC, the city pointed the finger at a new state health law as forcing the closures. The Jamison fountain circulates and chlorinates the water. The city is slowly replacing the old wading pools with "splash pads" that recirculate water, but it will be many years before all of the pools will be replaced because (they say) they have no money.

Re. the wading pools in neighborhood parks: Since they were drained and refilled each day any argument about standing water is sort of ridiculous. I have many happy memories of those wading pools and there were never any lifeguards or safety minions around . . . just parents and babysitters. There wasn't any place in those pools deeper than about 5" near the center. I wish the City would get a grip. I miss the wading pools and I miss the public bathrooms. Then yesterday I passed a TriMet bus stop on SW Vista and Main with a bench and one of the old protective shelters, still in great shape. Prominently plastered across its back was a sign that said, "Due to budget restraints this shelter will be removed but stop will remain open." Will someone please tell me how it makes sense to spend money to remove a perfectly good shelter when "budget restraints" are a concern?

Jack, if you want to set up a charity underdog pool for the PPS bond measure, the arts tax, and the new library district, I'm in for $25.

People say lots of things to pollsters; whether they actually vote the same way when the total ballot is laid out in front of them on the kitchen table is another matter.

Agreed, Mr. Charles. Just spent the day with two friends, and discussion of the money measures included voters also looking at their impending property tax bill, plus the potential changes. I think Library is nearly a no-brainer yes, arts tax is doa, and the school bond will be close again. I think the size of the school bond will be its undoing.