Multnomah Commissioners Seek $35 Million Moda Center Cut as County Faces $60 Million Deficit
Updated
Updated · KATU · Jul 22
Multnomah Commissioners Seek $35 Million Moda Center Cut as County Faces $60 Million Deficit
1 articles · Updated · KATU · Jul 22
Summary
$35 million could be stripped from Multnomah County’s proposed Moda Center contribution under amendments from Commissioners Julia Brim-Edwards and Meghan Moyer ahead of Thursday’s vote.
The pair say Business Income Tax revenue tied to the team sale should help close the county’s projected $60 million three-year budget gap instead of funding arena renovations.
A second amendment would require at least $4.5 million a year through 2049 to cover debt costs; with debt service, the county’s current plan would cost taxpayers nearly $140 million.
Jessica Vega Pederson had proposed about $100 million for the project and criticized the late amendments, while Commissioner Shannon Singleton warned changing terms could jeopardize the Trail Blazers’ future in Portland.
The fight could reshape the broader $573 million public funding package for the Moda Center, with at least one more commissioner’s support needed to advance the cuts.