Proposal to Consolidate Portland and Multnomah County Governments

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A grassroots movement is underway in the Portland, Oregon metro area to consolidate the city of Portland and Multnomah County governments into a single unified local administration. Matt Zmuda, who is leading the push for consolidation, believes this would help streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy, and improve efficiency in delivering public services to residents.

Why it matters

Portland and Multnomah County have long had overlapping jurisdictions and duplicative administrative functions, which can lead to inefficiencies and make it challenging for residents to navigate local government. Consolidation could potentially save taxpayer money, improve coordination of services, and make it easier for the public to engage with their local government.

The details

The proposal to consolidate the city and county governments would need to be approved by voters in both Portland and Multnomah County. Zmuda and his team are currently gathering signatures to put the issue on the ballot for a public referendum. If approved, the consolidation would combine the administrative functions, budgets, and elected leadership of the two entities into a single unified local government.

• The grassroots effort to consolidate Portland and Multnomah County governments began in early 2026.
• Zmuda's team is currently collecting signatures to put the consolidation proposal on the November 2026 ballot.

What they’re saying

What’s next

If the consolidation proposal is approved by voters in November 2026, the transition to a unified Portland-Multnomah County government would likely take 12-18 months to implement.