The city of Portland has recently uncovered several piles of money no one knew was there. At the same time, the city is looking at a pot of money that some say should be off limits to keep the Portland Trail Blazers in town.

We are living in a time of meager public budgets. Look pretty much anywhere in Oregon these days, and you find school districts preparing cuts, state budget writers figuring out what has to go, and cities looking at tough choices.

So it’s been notable in recent months to see the city of Portland stumbling over piles of money that no one knew was there. At the same time, the city is scrambling to make sure it keeps the Portland Trail Blazers in town, and to do so it’s looking at a pot of money that some say should be off limits.

We are diving into the city’s bank accounts today – with a side of sports talk.