District 3 candidate Jon Walker is calling for the City of Portland to adopt a Minimum Service Ratio (MSR) requirement for non-profits receiving city grants and contracts. Drawing on his experience as a policy analyst for the Oregon Health Authority, where he enforces a similar rule for Medicaid funds, Walker believes this measure would ensure that a larger portion of city funds goes directly to services rather than being lost to overhead costs.
Walker points to the recent financial struggles at the Community Cycling Center, a nonprofit focused on making cycling accessible to underserved communities. According to Walker, despite receiving over $1 million in Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) grants, the organization is facing serious financial issues due to high administrative costs. He argues this example highlights the city’s need for stronger financial oversight.
“The city needs to better vet nonprofits and should be able to get back money when it is clear not enough is being spent on services versus overhead,” said Walker.
