City of Portland asks public safety bureaus to explore budget cuts [Video]

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – As the city of Portland faces a $27M funding gap, officials looked to their internal bureaus to develop strategies to cut spending by 5% to 8%. While officials said these cuts would not impact public safety departments, the city is asking the Portland Police Bureau, Portland Fire & Rescue, and Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Communications to all explore the possibility of that same 5-8% in cuts.

However, if that possibility were to become a reality, meaning certain public safety services could be taken away, local business owners believe that could mean trouble for them.

Ricky Gomez has owned a business in Portland since 2017 and recently opened Side Eye, a new bar on NW 21st Ave.

“When it comes to consumers trying to decide where they want to go if it’s only once a month now, where they feel safe will be taken into account for …