Multnomah County Delays Vote on Preschool For All Tax Change After Public Pushback

Multnomah County is facing intense public opposition as it considers a proposal to index the tax funding the Preschool for All program to inflation, potentially changing the tax thresholds for high earners. Supporters, including parents, educators, and community leaders, argue that the program is vital for families, providing free preschool to thousands of children and helping working families, especially during economic hardships. Governor Tina Kotek has praised the program's vision but criticized its execution and sustainability, highlighting concerns about unspent funds and low participation from licensed sites. Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards delayed voting on the tax indexing proposal to better align it with broader improvements to the program amid fears that changes could reduce funding and harm the initiative. Advocates warn that altering the tax now could undermine the universal preschool effort and betray voter promises, while some affluent taxpayers express support for continuing to fund the program. The county board is expected to revisit the decision after further discussions, with a vote anticipated after August 28.