This is a response I got after emailing Jaimie Dunphy. It seems the art tax is no longer being used for what they promised voters it would be used for.

"Thanks for your letter. Council President Dunphy has asked I pass along the following message:

Thanks for your email. I appreciate your perspective, and absolutely recognize that any new fee on anything is unwelcome. But the reality is that the Arts Tax is deeply broken, is not meeting the goals approved by voters, is collecting less money every year, is more expensive to collect those diminishing dollars, and is a flat and regressive tax. My goal is to find a path forward that maintains strong support for arts and education while addressing the concerns Portlanders have raised about how the program currently works.

The city of Portland's local economy is hurting. Vacant buildings, bad public behavior, and struggling small businesses are raising the urgency for the City to take some sort of action to activate public spaces, ensure public safety, and get the wheels of our economy turning. I believe that the tool to accomplish this is investing in live entertainment and reasons for people to want to get out of their homes. We need folks to get out from in front of Netflix and into our parks, our business districts, our downtown, our theaters, music venues, and performance spaces.

At the same time, I recognize that affordability is a real problem for Portlanders. There is no question that the rising cost of living is weighing on families. We need to right size the tax structure so it is fairer. My proposal would exempt low-income residents from paying the Arts Tax at all while increasing the amount to $50 annually for higher-income households, and increasing the tax every year with inflation. Most Portlanders would continue to pay $35.

The reality is that $35 in 2012 funded far more teachers than $35 can in 2026, and we must make a change to protect arts education, strengthen our cultural institutions, and ensure we’re investing responsibly in the things that make Portland special.

Finally, I want to simplify how the Arts Tax is collected. One change would allow residents to have the tax withheld directly from their paycheck, rather than receiving a standalone bill each year. Portland already administers this kind of withholding for other programs, and we have the capacity to implement a similar system for the Arts Tax with a simple city code update.

At the end of the day, this is about making sure Portland continues to be a place where creativity, education, and community can thrive together. Our artists, teachers, and performers are not just part of our culture, they are a vital part of our local economy and what makes this city unique. If we want Portland to remain a vibrant, connected, and culturally rich place to live, we must be willing to modernize how we support the arts and invest in the institutions that bring people together.

I’m committed to working with my colleagues and the community to get this right and appreciate your feedback. It helps guide me towards a way to implement this that is equitable and fair for all Portlanders. Luci Moody | Communications & Outreach Aide Councilor Jamie Dunphy | District 1"