The city of Portland is continuing to find unallocated money within the Housing Bureau, and the latest discovery brings the total to more than $106 million.

Currently, the Portland City Council is considering how to handle the discovery last summer of a $20.7 million surplus within the Housing Bureau. On Wednesday, the council voted 8-4 for the city administrator to release public records tied to the surplus by Feb. 20 and schedule an oversight hearing for no later than March 6.

But the passage of follows the council being informed Feb. 1 of an additional surplus of $24.9 million unbudgeted in sub-funds within the Housing Investment Fund. Then on Friday, the city administrator announced another discovery of $62.1 million unbudgeted in four other PHB funds.

The $20.7 million is from the Portland Housing Bureau‘s Rental Services Office. Money accrued over the past several years as fees were paid by landlords as part of the city’s Residential Rental Registration program. The PHB discovered the money in August 2025 and then notified the council in November.

The City Council is considering what to do with the funds, but initial targets included several rent assistance programs, eviction prevention services, emergency housing vouchers, landlord/tenant education for tenant protections, affordable housing stabilization, and down payment assistance.

On Feb. 18, the City Council will vote on a full resolution addressing the $20.7 million. Previously, on Jan. 28, the council voted 8-4 to approve an amendment that removed emergency housing vouchers from consideration. Instead, $5.6 million would be appropriated for the Broadway Corridor affordable housing project, $1 million for the Williams & Russell project, and $1.5 million for Self Enhancement Inc.‘s Northeast 13th Avenue affordable homeownership project.

The most recent discovered surpluses – the $24.9 million and the $62.1 million – are not being addressed in .

Several councilors on Wednesday voiced support for the city administrator and Mayor Keith Wilson to hire an outside investigator. Council President Jamie Dunphy said the best option is to hire an outside investigator, but it would be expensive and the investigation would require one or two months to accomplish.

“I think this is entirely backward looking,” Councilor Steve Novick said. “What I want to know is what steps the administration is taking to ensure that we know, and they know, what money is available in various pots.”

Councilor Loretta Smith said the oversight hearing needs to focus on the full unaccounted funding ($106 million) and not just the $20.7 million. Councilor Mitch Green noted that the resolution would not prevent the council from discussing the full amount.

PHB interim director Michael Buonocore said the bureau’s finance team, which submits financial details to the city’s budget office annually, has eight or nine people. Smith said they should provide testimony during the hearing.

Following an initial oversight hearing some time before March 6, others could follow.

The post Surprise! Portland Housing Bureau has $106 million surplus appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.

Prosper Portland‘s board of directors on Friday appointed longtime agency manager Lisa Abuaf as interim executive director.

Abuaf takes the agency’s reins following the resignation of former interim Executive Director Shea Flaherty Betin, who clashed with Mayor Keith Wilson and members of the City Council as the group considered a proposal to strip the agency of general funds amid a budget crunch.

Abuaf has served in various roles since joining Prosper Portland (then called the Portland Development Commission) in March 2006. She was most recently director of development and investment.

“Many thanks and much gratitude to Lisa for stepping into this role,” board Chairman Gustavo Cruz said Friday.

Much of Friday’s unusual board meeting was given over to expressions of support for Betin, who led the agency for eight months.

The board unanimously approved a resolution stating, in part: “In a time of critical transition for the agency, Shea Flaherty Betin led with both compassion and practicality, providing a steady hand during the hiring of a new executive director, and maintaining the agency’s mission and work.”

Former Executive Director Kimberly Branam called Betin “an absolutely ideal colleague.”

“Shea, we are all better, and the community is better, and Portland is better for having had the privilege of working with you,” Branam said.

Prosper Portland officials have defended the agency as a newly enlarged and empowered City Council has raised questions about what works and what doesn’t in city government while trying to cut the budget.

Board Commissioner Felisa Hagins alluded to Betin resigning under pressure from city leaders.

“I’m embarrassed, and I’m very embarrassed for our city,” she said. “I think that there are the right ways and the wrong ways to do things, and I think this was not the right way.”

Betin will receive 12 months’ salary, totaling $212,992, as severance. He said he would take some time off before finding a new role.

“I’ve given everything of myself to this place and this city, and I’m looking forward to taking a break and finding out how I fit into this tapestry that is this city and this place,” he said. “But I love you all. Thank you.”

Prosper Portland’s board is in the final stages of hiring a permanent executive director. The agency has extended an offer to a candidate with the expectation that this person will assume the executive director position in August, subject to the board’s approval, spokesman Shawn Uhlman stated in an email.

The post Abuaf named interim leader of Prosper Portland appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.