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Portland voters won’t be asked how to establish a street fund in the May election after all.

Mayor Charlie Hales and Transportation Commissioner Steve Novick in a Thursday news release announced the city opted not to file paperwork with Multnomah County to seek an 鈥渁dvisory vote鈥� on how to raise millions for Portland’s street fund, instead waiting to see what moves the Oregon Legislature makes when it convenes in February.

The deadline to submit paperwork for the May election was 5 p.m. on Jan. 15.

鈥淥ver the past week, I have had conversations with Speaker of the House Tina Kotek and with Gov. John Kitzhaber,鈥� Hales said in the news release. 鈥淭hey have each assured me that a statewide transportation package is a top priority for them this legislative session.鈥�

At a Jan. 8 council meeting, Hales asked for ideas from the public and outlined the city’s proposals 鈥� including a progressive income tax, a gas tax and a local-option property tax levy 鈥� saying the council would place between three and six funding options on the May ballot and choose one or more of the most popular options for adoption by the council.

The city needs to raise around $40 million annually to maintain city streets and begin to chip away at the maintenance backlog caused by the economic downturn.