The city of Gresham is facing tough budget decisions after a public safety levy failed during the May special election.

That five-year levy aimed to fund everything from police and fire to services for the homeless and crisis response teams.

Now Gresham faces an $8 million budget shortfall.

KATU asked voters in Gresham why they chose to vote against the levy. For Carole Linneman, she said it was the $ 35-a-month fee for property owners.

"I cannot pay any more taxes. I pay an awful lot as it is and even though I may have wanted more of whatever it offered, I also need money to live day by day," Linneman said.

Gresham's city manager said she's now working with the city council is determine a path forward.

“We’re going to be discussing with council what our options are, but it is looking at those one-time, federal, American Rescue Plan Act dollars, also looking at fees, and also looking at some service reductions, Nina Vetter said.

Those American Rescue Plan dollars would only carry the city of Gresham another year.

"It’s intense pressure, because right now we’ve got some minor short-term solutions, but it’s really what about the long term? So, we’ve got to keep after this because the long-term solution has to be in place," said Mayor Travis Stovall.

KATU asked both the mayor and the city manager what cuts would look like if they don't find another option for revenue.

"We’re still determining what that looks like, but a great example of what we’re looking at is some of the vacant positions that we currently don’t have filled. As an example, some of those might be non-sworn positions that would have helped our police officers and would have helped with some of our safety items," Vetter said.

Gresham plans to finalize the annual budget by the end of the month.