Tick-tock, Portlanders, it's arts tax time again. Today marks the deadline for the city's residents to pony up the annual $35 for the Arts Education and Access Fund, a decade-long tradition that's been fueling creativity in the classroom and beyond. According to an official statement from the City of Portland, this little levy has done some hefty lifting, amassing over a $124 million war chest since voters gave it the green light back in 2012.

Now, let's talk numbers because they're pretty impressive - I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, the kids are getting a sweet deal. Over $77 million of that artsy fortune has been pumped into Portland-area school districts, with some 30,000 youngsters getting a taste of arts and music education each year, this isn't just finger painting and recorders, this is comprehensive programming across every K-5 public school, that's what we're talking about here.

]The local art scene hasn't been left out in the cold; over $30 million has been channeled to Portland's arts organizations, which means galleries, theaters, and dance troupes have been cashing checks too, as stated by the City of Portland. This kind of sustained funding is rare, and in an increasingly digital world, keeping the city's cultural heartbeat thumping is no small feat.