In a signal that Portland voters still have some appetite for tax increases to fund core city services, the Parks Levy appears to be well on its way to passage. Early ballot returns in the special election released at 8 pm showed that votes for the levy outpace votes against it by a 6-point margin, 53.2% to 46.8%, though many votes are still yet to be counted.

The five-year renewal of the city’s existing property tax levy increases the rate of taxation from 80 cents to $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Supporters of the levy have warned that without the extra money, Portland Parks and Recreation would be forced to drastically cut its programming and risk falling even further behind on maintaining the city’s parks. The bureau has struggled for years to stanch a quickly-increasing defe

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