Regional Affordable Housing Bond for Washington County

The bond will create 34 percent of homes in Washington County, 21 percent of homes in Clackamas County, and 45 percent in Multnomah County.

The Metro Urban Growth Boundary is made up of portions of three counties. Each county contributes a different percentage of property taxes based on how many of the county’s homes fall within the boundary. The intention of the program is to create affordable homes proportionate to revenue raised in each county. Washington County’s portion of the revenue generated through property taxes within the urban growth boundary is 34 percent or $192 million. There are three implementing jurisdictions within Washington County who each have their own share of these funds. The City of Beaverton ($31.8 million), the City of Hillsboro ($41.5 million), and Washington County ($118.9 million).

Each county will develop local implementation strategies (LIS) that will be developed within Washington County based upon our own needs. This local plan will be approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners and then and then by Metro Council. This plan will be developed following an extensive community outreach process. The Metro Community Oversight Committee will review project plans to ensure they are in alignment with the Washington County approved LIS and will enable us to meet our specific goals.

The bond will cost county homeowners about $72 per year, or $6 per month, based on assessed home value of $300,000.

The bond requires the establishment of a Community Oversight Committee to track the program goals and provide accountability to voters. The distribution of funds is just one of several outcomes that they will track.

The committee is made up of 13 community leaders who cannot be elected officials or have monetary conflicts of interest. The 2019 Metro Council appointed the Community Oversight Committee at the end of January 2019. See information on the committee members.

The committee will:

• Review implementation strategies
• Provide ongoing project review and annual program reports
• Assess program outcomes and make recommendations to staff
• Recommend changes to Implementation Strategy amendments as needed

The funds can be used to:

• Build new affordable housing
• Purchase and rehabilitate existing housing
• Buy land for new affordable housing
• Produce affordable homeownership units

The majority of Bond funds MUST be used for housing units. Ten percent of the funds generated by the bond will be used by Metro to acquire land that will be developed into affordable housing within the region. Five percent of the funds will be set aside for administrative costs. This allows local entities to hire the staff required to implement the plans they are developing.

Yes. The Washington County LIS requires robust community involvement as we develop our regional priorities.

The unit goals identified in the prior section labeled “Overview” will be the driving force behind the type of housing to be built. Additionally, the County’s LIS will include input from the community as we work to identify local priorities which must be aligned with the following core values laid out in Metro’s Bond framework:

• Lead with racial equity
• Create opportunity for those in need
• Create opportunity throughout the region
• Ensure long-term benefits and good use of public dollars

There is much work to do before housing can actually be built. Metro has set a goal for the implementation plans to be approved by August 2019, with the targeted dates as follows:

• Nov-Dec. 2018: Stakeholder engagement to inform Metro plan for accountability/oversight
• Jan. 2019: Metro Council will adopt work plan and oversight committee appointments
• January through Spring 2019: Implementation Strategy development using local community engagement
• Fall 2019: Local Implementation Strategy Proposals will be delivered to Community Oversight Committee starting in June, and the proposals will be approved by Metro Council in September/October 2019. Funding will be made available for development and acquisition of affordable housing.