Taxpayers will once again help fund Portland political campaigns, after a divided City Council on Wednesday approved a new system for public financing.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to match private funds raised by candidates for city office who agree to limit their fundraising and spending. Commissioners Nick Fish and Dan Saltzman voted no.

The policy replaces a controversial predecessor cast down by voters in 2010. Candidates can use the system starting in 2019, in time for the 2020 elections.

The vote marked a victory for Amanda Fritz, who used the previous system to fund her successful campaign in 2008 and championed the new system. She was the only non-incumbent to win a race using public financing.

"I'm very, very grateful," Fritz said. "We already have a campaign finance system at the state level. I believe we really need to be able to do it here so that more people get talked to, more people get listened and more people really feel and know that they made a huge difference whether they live in a mansion or are selling Street Roots on the street."

It also thrilled the 30 community organizations that support the proposal.

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement, which currently reports to Fritz, will manage the system.

An earlier version of the ordinance assigned the task to the city's independently elected auditor, Mary Hull Caballero refused. But she refused, citing conflicts of interest and saying her office lacked the time and resources to properly manage the program.

The program will establish a Public Election Fund, which could account for 0.2 percent of the city's general fund. The fund will offer a 6-to-1 match for the first $50 of a private contribution, turning a $50 contribution into a $350 donation and encouraging candidates to still work at fundraising and consequently contact more voters.

To use the system, candidates must cap their private contributions at $20,000 during the primary election and $20,000 in the general election. They must limit individual contributions to $250.

Voters won't be asked to weigh in on the system, which could cost up to $2.4 million per year election cycle -- a point of contention on the council.

Saltzman proposed an amendment last week, on Fish's behalf, that would have sent the matter to the ballot. But the council rejected it 3-1.

Voters narrowly rejected the city's former system in 2010, years after it was in action, amid concern over a case where one candidate misspent her funding.

"I'm just not comfortable taking taxpayer money to fund my campaign without their permission," Fish said. "I fear that by bypassing the voters, a well-intentioned proposal to strengthen public trust could instead end up undermining it."

Update: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Commissioner Dan Saltzman did not vote. He voted no, making it a 3-2 vote.