TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

The General Reserve Fund, established in 1987-88, maintains a Council-adopted policy minimum of 10% of General Fund resources (split 5% emergency, 5% counter-cyclical). The 2026-27 proposed budget shows total expenses of $93.2M with $86.2M reserved for future expenditure, a beginning fund balance of $83.4M, and contingency reserves of $1.7M—a significant decline from the $81.2M contingency in the revised 2025-26 budget.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

General Reserve Fund created FY 1987-88 to build reserves for the General Fund under Council-adopted policy requiring minimum 10% reserve level (p. 1005 ↗)
2026-27 proposed total expense: $93.2M (increase from $90.3M revised 2025-26 budget) (p. 1005 ↗)
Contingency reserve drops sharply: $1.7M in 2026-27 proposed versus $81.2M in 2025-26 revised budget (p. 1005 ↗)
Reserved for Future Expenditure: $86.2M allocated in 2026-27 proposed budget (p. 1005 ↗)
Beginning fund balance 2026-27: $83.4M (up from $74.2M in 2025-26 revised budget) (p. 1005 ↗)
First 5% of reserve defined as emergency reserve for major one-time, unanticipated expenditures or revenue fluctuations (p. 1005 ↗)
Second 5% defined as counter-cyclical reserve available during economic recession to transition expenditure growth to match slower revenue growth (p. 1005 ↗)
No significant changes reported in fund management from prior year (p. 1006 ↗)

Amounts: $93,218,831 · $90,329,528 · $86,233,876 · $83,397,202 · $6,984,955 · $5,309,904 · $3,054,030 · $1,675,051 · Programs: General Reserve Fund · General Fund · Emergency reserve · Counter-cyclical reserve · Parties: City of Portland · City Council · City Budget Office

General Reserve Fund

Source: PDF pp. 1005-1006 ↗ · raw: 1005 · 1006

Breadcrumb: Fund Summaries > Citywide > General Reserve Fund

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget Citywide> General Reserve Fund General Reserve Fund Fund Summary 2024-25 Actuals 2023-24 Actuals 2025-26 Revised Budget 2026-27 Proposed Expense $78,054,357 $79,892,771 $90,329,528 $93,218,831 Fund Expense $3,851,737 $4,700,000 $90,329,528 $6,984,955 Contingency $0 $0 $81,152,623 $1,675,051 Fund Transfers - $3,851,737 $4,700,000 $9,176,905 $5,309,904 Expense NA $0 $0 $0 $86,233,876 Reserved for Future $0 $0 $0 $86,233,876 Expenditure Unappropriated $74,202,620 $75,192,771 $0 $0 Ending Fund Balance $74,202,620 $75,192,771 $0 $0 Revenue $78,054,357 $79,892,771 $90,329,528 $93,218,831 External Revenues $2,861,586 $2,138,653 $0 $3,054,030 Miscellaneous $2,861,586 $2,138,653 $0 $3,054,030 Internal Revenues $75,192,771 $77,754,118 $90,329,528 $90,164,801 Beginning Fund $75,192,771 $72,154,118 $74,202,623 $83,397,202 Balance Fund Transfers - $0 $5,600,000 $16,126,905 $6,767,599 Revenue Fund Overview The General Reserve Fund was created in FY 1987-88 for the purpose of building a reserve for the General Fund. It is Council- adopted policy to maintain a reserve level equal to at least 10% of General Fund discretionary and overhead resources less beginning fund balance. The policy defines the first 5% of reserves as an emergency reserve available to fund major one-time, unanticipated expenditures or to offset unanticipated revenue fluctuations that occur within a fiscal year. The second 5% of the reserve fund is defined as a counter-cyclical reserve and is available to transition expenditure growth to match slower revenue growth during an economic recession. City Council’s five-year financial forecast allows using reserves in excess of the required 10% level to fund one-time General Fund appropriations. The fund also includes sub-funds for dedicated resources and future expense. Managing Agency 1005

City of Portland Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget City Budget Office Significant Changes from Prior Year There are no other significant changes in the management of the General Reserve Fund. 1006

Parent: Citywide · PDF: pp. 1005-1006 ↗