😬 Why the city missed a $7M tax payment

😬 Portland’s Missed Tax Payments

The city announced last week that it had failed to pay $7 million in payroll taxes over the past two quarters because of a clerical error. Payments were reportedly made as soon as the Bureau of Human Resources found the issue in early May. Operations manager Tom Schneider oversees the payroll system. He was set to retire at the end of this week, but the city has placed him on administrative leave through the end of his term. [WIllamette Week]

• Another tax mixup: Thousands of Portlanders received demand letters recently for taxes that had already been paid. The city’s working to clear up the confusion. [KGW]
• Related: What’s up with the controversial $5.61 billion “kicker” tax credit refunds? [City Cast Portland 🎧]

🗳️ Community Budgeting Will Have to Wait

A ballot initiative that would allow voters to decide on 2% of the city’s discretionary budget will not appear on November’s ballot, according to an announcement from Community Budgeting for All. The coalition of progressive groups did not say why they made the decision to pull the campaign, though they were seemingly short of the signatures required to qualify for the ballot. The group is aiming for the November 2026 ballot. [Willamette Week]

✈️ Goodbye, Vintage Jets

Oregon’s Air National Guard base is getting a $2.2 billion facelift, the largest single project in the organization’s history — that's the entire country's National Guard, not just Portland. The upgrades include a new training facility, hangar renovations, and a fleet of 18 new F-15EX fighter jets to replace the outdated F-15C, which has not been overhauled since 1985. The new planes will have “no significant impact” on nearby travelers at PDX airport — a hub undergoing its own renovations. [City Cast Portland 🎧, OPB]

Are you ready for a new (or new-to-you) bike? Leah Benson, former owner of the now-shuttered Gladys Bikes, offers some shopping tips:

How Much?

You should expect to spend at least $300 for a used bike and $800+ for a new one.

“The floor of what's going to be a good bike that's made with materials that are going to last a reasonable amount of time is probably $800,” says Benson.

Go Fast With Wide Tires

Bike marketing distinguishes bikes in large part by what they’ll be used for, and often it comes down to the tire width. The categories — commuter, hybrid, road bike, all-road, gravel bike, mountain bike — are helpful but are also simply “marketing categories, and you can make a whole lot of bikes work for a whole lot of things,” says Benson.

So if you think you’re going to go on trails, consider a wider tire — even if you want to go fast.

“You can have wider tires and still be fast,” says Benson “You can go on some of that gravel and feel good. You can go on some dirt. If you want to take your bike up into Forest Park and ride on Leif Erikson Drive, you're going to be chill with that.”

Aluminum Might Not Be Lightest

Aluminum frames are cheapest and quite light. But the often-cheaper parts that aluminum-frame bikes include may make the bikes heavier than alternatives. Conversely, steel is heavier, but may come with lighter materials, potentially making the bike lighter overall.

Carbon frames are the lightest and good at absorbing shocks. But they are spendy.

Customize Your Bike

Once you’ve got a bike, consider customizing it for the ultimate fit. It’s possible to replace the handlebars and the stem and, most importantly of all, your seat.

“The No. 1 thing that keeps people off of their bikes is discomfort with them,” says Benson. “And a lot of people point to the bike seat — or saddle, we'll call it — as being the thing that just makes it so that they don't want to ride.”

For more tips on customizing your bike and tips on where to shop, listen to the full City Cast Portland podcast interview.

🌹⚠️ Alert: Today, I have a reminder in the form of photo: It’s a peak moment in the City of Roses. Check out the blooms at a garden near you!

Reviving Portland’s Port, Hot Takes on Fleet Week, and is Herman the Sturgeon a Sham?

Let’s dive into some special river-themed stories today. We’re talking about the troubled history of our container shipping terminal, a nearly 100-year-old fish that may or may not exist, and a new game called four hot takes in four minutes! Joining host Claudia Meza on the show is our very own executive producer, John Notarianni.