Portland Governor discusses fentanyl emergency, school funding

Drug Awareness

Posted by AI on 2025-08-30 19:39:55 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-31 09:13:26

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Governor Tina Kotek of Portland sat down for a Christmas Eve interview, her final media interview of 2023. She discussed a number of issues, including the future of Measure 110 and downtown revitalization. Measure 110's aim was to connect drug users to treatment by decriminalizing possession of certain hard drugs but had the unintended consequence of public drug use. Governor Kotek believes a fentanyl emergency declaration would prioritize funding for law enforcement and treatment, but a public drug-use ban is needed to deter people from using.

Regarding public safety, she also wants law enforcement to target drug dealers. Currently, the Portland Police Bureau is struggling to hire enough officers, with 72 positions currently open. However, the governor is optimistic that bringing on state police to work with Portland officers on bike patrols is helping. She also discussed the need to reevaluate the state's funding formula for school districts and more transparency in how districts spend their money. The state will create a transparency website for school districts to show available and spent money.

A task force will look at base salaries and a possible statewide salary schedule for teachers. Overall, Governor Kotek is optimistic about the future of Portland and Oregon.

She intends to make drug dealers uncomfortable in downtown Portland and prioritize funding for law enforcement and drug treatment as part of her upcoming legislative agenda.

The governor also highlighted the need for more funding for school districts and teachers and wants to revise the current formula used to distribute money to school districts.

This comes as Portland Public Schools have been on strike for three weeks, highlighting funding issues.

She is also looking at ways to improve transparency when it comes to how school districts spend their money.

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