Leaders of Metro, the government body that oversees land use in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, are asking voters in the greater Portland area to consider a bond to help improve the region’s parks and natural areas, at no increase to property taxes.
If passed, Metro measure 26-203 would authorize $475 million towards things like purchasing land to restore wildlife habitats and improving and completing community parks and trails.
The bond would continue the current property tax rate of $0.19 per $1,000 of assessed value that Metro had established with a previous bond measure that's near completion, meaning homeowners wouldn’t see a change in their taxes if the measure passes. That tax translates to about $4 a month for people whose homes are worth $250,000.
“Metro has gone out to the voters several times in the past couple decades to support this regional work, most recently in 2006 natural areas bond,” said Jonathan Blasher, Metro’s parks and nature director.
The 2006 bond measure raised $227 million, according to Metro. A previous bond measure in 1995 raised $136 million.
Blasher said this bond measure is similar to those in the past, though with funding for specific future projects in mind.
“There are similarities. It’s really expanding through the process of engagement of what people may or may not want to see in the region,” Blasher said. “It’s continuing the great work that has been done in the past while addressing some other issues and interests.”
The bond would go towards “funding projects in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and it would be distributed through six program areas,” he said.
The most funded program area is land purchase and restoration at $155 million. With that, Metro would purchase land from willing sellers and restore that land to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat.
The bond will also push an estimated $40 million towards "Nature in Neighborhood" grants to do similar land restoration work. Metro will award grants to specific capital projects, with priority given to projects that reduce the impacts of climate change and implement Metro's diversity, equity and inclusion plan, which looks to partner with communities of color among other principles.
The bond would also focus on Metro park improvements. Blasher mentioned completing Chehalem Ridge in Washington County, south of Forest Grove, as an example. Once completed, the 1,200-acre nature park will feature about nine miles of trails.
The bond also allocates money toward local parks and nature projects, including walking and biking trails as well as “complex community projects.”
“That’s funding for public projects that also address other community issues such as jobs, housing, transportation,” Blasher said.
For example, the complex community projects portion of the bond allots $20 million to the Willamette Falls Legacy Project, which is looking to provide public access to the iconic Oregon City waterfalls.
Voters will get a chance to decide on the bond measure in the upcoming special election Nov. 5.