9.17.26 Regular Meeting

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners held a virtual regular meeting on September 17, 2026, focusing primarily on two key topics: the state legislative planning work session and potential funding approaches for the county's investment in the renovation of the Moda Center arena. The legislative session discussion involved updates on the state budget outlook, impacts of federal HR1 legislation on state and local funding, and coordination with regional partners on shared legislative priorities, including housing, homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, and transportation. Commissioners expressed concerns about significant proposed reductions in state funding for housing and eviction prevention programs and emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and alignment with city priorities. The second briefing detailed various funding scenarios for the Moda Center renovation, including the use of motor vehicle rental tax and transient lodging tax revenues, debt issuance, and potential tax rate increases. The county's Chief Financial Officer presented analyses showing that increasing the motor vehicle rental tax by 1% to 1.25% would be the most viable option to 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 project cost and long-term financial commitments. No formal votes were taken during the meeting, but the board indicated a preference for further refinement of the legislative agenda and funding strategies ahead of future decisions.