City News
June 10 Election Results – School Budget Passes
Superintendent Ryan Scallon and Board of Public Education Chair Sarah Lentz thanked City voters for their decisive approval on June 10th of the Portland Public Schools’ budget for fiscal year 2026.
The $171.8 million budget consists of a local budget of approximately $162.8 million and $9 million in additional funds. It was approved by a 2 to 1 margin. According to unofficial results from the office of the Portland City Clerk on Tuesday, June 10, the vote to validate the budget was 3,347 or nearly 67 percent in favor and 1,619 or just over 32 percent opposed.
Voters also approved continuing the school budget referendum process, with 62% agreeing to keep putting it on the ballot for an additional 3 years.
Learn more about the budget on the FY2026 Budget Page on the PPS website. View the budget referendum results.
Sawtelle Wins School Board
In other news, Portland voters elected retired Portland High School music teacher Jayne Sawtelle to a vacant at-large Board seat. Sawtelle won 3,706 votes or nearly 75 percent, over building contractor and PPS parent Cassidy LaCroix, who received 953 votes or approximately 19 percent.
The seat was vacated by Benjamin Grant, who stepped down after he was elected to the City Council this past November. There is only about six months left in the unexpired term for Grant’s former at-large seat. As such, Sawtelle would need to run again in November to retain the seat.
