ARTICLE
Earlier this month, the Washington County Board of Commissioners agreed with HBA and approved a phased-in approach for development related fees. The Board voted 4-1 to proceed with a two-tiered system with a 50 percent increase on July 1 followed by another one on January 1, 2021. Land Use and Transportation (LUT), which collects these fees, is largely collection funded, meaning they receive few resources aside from development fees. This means that LUT’s financial security shifts along with the development community. When HBA members build new homes, LUT has the resources it needs to fully implement organizational goals and priorities. As such, the Commission’s acknowledgment of the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on new construction and the need to support the development community with manageable fee increases during these difficult times, will support new development. This in turn will strengthen LUT’s finances, advancing a virtuous cycle. HBA thanks the Commission for recognizing the need for reexamining fee increases as the building community adapts to the COVID-19 reality. To learn more about our work with Washington County, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.