9.15.26 Board Briefing

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners held a virtual briefing on September 15, 2026, focusing primarily on two key topics: the county's state legislative agenda planning and potential funding approaches for the renovation of the Moda Center arena. The legislative planning discussion involved updates on the state budget outlook, impacts of federal legislation (HR1) on state and local funding, and coordination with regional partners on shared priorities such as housing, homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, and transportation. Commissioners expressed concerns about significant proposed reductions in housing and eviction prevention funding and emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and alignment with cities. The second briefing detailed various funding scenarios for the county's $101.6 million commitment to the Moda Center renovation, including options involving motor vehicle rental tax increases, transient lodging tax considerations, and debt issuance. The county's Chief Financial Officer presented analyses showing that increasing the motor vehicle rental tax by at least 1% would be necessary to comfortably cover debt service and ongoing maintenance costs, while recommending against increasing the transient lodging tax due to its current high rate and slow recovery. Commissioners generally supported funding options involving motor vehicle rental tax increases and expressed caution about the overall financial stretch of the project, highlighting the need for continued negotiation with the City of Portland and consideration of long-term county capital needs. No formal votes were taken during this briefing; the presentations served to inform future decisions and solicit board direction.