County leaders urge Metro clarity, financial analysis and delay on SHS reform referral

Erin Doyers, government relations manager for Washington County, told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 16 that Metro Council has circulated two draft ordinances proposing reforms to the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) measure and that county staff prepared a draft comment letter for the board to consider.

Doyers summarized the draft referral and the county staff review, saying the draft ordinances would: expand allowable uses to include a broad definition of affordable housing (potentially including development, preservation, acquisition and anti‑displacement activities); extend the tax authorization through tax year 2050 while prescribing a lower maximum rate ceiling than the current 1 percent; create a regional oversight body (described in the drafts as H2PAC or similar) to recommend allocations and policies; require a regional housing and homelessness action plan (RHHAP) to set performance metrics and priorities; and impose annual local implementation work‑plan approvals and increased regional reporting, monitoring and auditing requirements.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the drafts contain major operational and fiscal changes but lack public financial estimates and implementation…