Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland city council finalized its budget Wednesday.

While few Oregon cities have had an easy fiscal year, Portland’s been working through some political sideshows  - in addition to belt-tightening. April Baer reports.

Weeks of stormy discussion of safety spending culminated in the firing of the Police Chief.

The final version of the budget package will retain the jobs of some 25 sworn police officers, originally on the list of cuts.

Former police Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who tangled with Mayor Sam Adams over this point, said he was satisfied with the restoration of officers' jobs.

But some onlookers didn’t agree.

Amy Shafer is an employee of the Portland Police Bureau. She's not a sworn officer, having started as a desk clerk. Now she works in the alarms unit. Amy Shafer: "Firing up to 25 non-sworn, with the illusion that's going to save the officers being on the streets and being able to help people isn't really the case. Because those officers will be taking our positions - admin positions – at desks, processing checks and doing things I obviously do for half the price."

The budget calls for a total of $450 million in spending out of the general fund through fiscal year 2011.

After a unanimous vote approving the budget, Council also passed a series of water and sewer rate increases that have played a starring role in fiscal talks. Mayor Sam Adams defended the increases.

The Water Bureau, in particular, has to pay for some long-term capital projects.

Adams also mentioned the state’s budget problems, noting they’ll mean more cuts for Portland. And he fired a warning shot.

Sam Adams: "Multnomah County and the city of Portland cannot subsidize local government budgets around the region. We do not have enough money ourselves to adequately address the issues of hunger, homelessness, and affordable housing."

Adams says he’ll press for more equitable spending for social services among Portland’s neighbors.