Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland City Council has passed a revised $450 million budget plan for the next year and a half.

Commissioners tweaked several contentious items. After the budget vote, Council approved some related increases in water and sewer rates. The increases were not as large as originally planned – 6.4% for sewer, and 12% for water.

Mayor Sam Adams defended the rate hikes, and said he feels some recent spending decisions have been misunderstood.

Sam Adams: "There are folks out there that have access to large microphones who keep promoting this notion that we're spending sewer contract savings on bike lanes. And no matter how many times we repeat it and show it's not true, that folks are going to continue to believe that and say that."

He says sewer contracts that were bid years ago were bargained down; some contractors are willing to work for less in the slow economy.

The budget package did preserve the jobs of about 25 sworn police officers. Some 25 non-sworn employees will lose their jobs.

The city's popular horse patrol will remain intact, partly funded by a private donor.