Voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether they want to put a five-year levy on Portlanders' property taxes to pay for early childhood, after-school and child abuse-prevention programs.

The proposed levy would provide $50 million for five years, beginning in 2003, to a Children's Investment Fund to pay for such programs. The levy would be about 40 cents per $1,000 in assessed value of property, meaning the owner of a $150,000 house would pay about $60 more in property taxes per year.

The levy needs a majority vote to pass. In November general elections, there is no voter turnout requirement.