Didn't Pay the Portland Arts Tax? That Ringing Phone May Be a Bill Collector

Faced with the fact that tens of thousands of people have not paid the city's Arts Tax, Portland is calling in some muscle - debt collectors.

The City Council this week approved turning over nearly 100,000 accounts.

Each of those people allow $100 or more. About 25,000 of them owe at least $260.

That's right. You owe Portland $100? Expect a call from the debt collector.

The $35 Arts Tax was first required in 2013 and have constantly lagged behind expectations. The tax was projected to bring in $11 million a year.

While 230,000 people paid the tax last year, bringing in $81. million, it was below what had been expected.

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By turning accounts over to debt collectors, the city is expected to see another $2 million or so added to the city's coffers.

The Arts Tax is intended for a good cause - helping fund arts teachers at the city's schools.

In 2012, there were 31 arts teachers in K-5 schools.

Last year, there were 91.