WCCC approves $20.1 million in TDT expenditure requests; committee to formalize 8.32% TDT rate increase in April

The Washington County Coordinating Committee voted to approve two transportation development tax (TDT) expenditure requests submitted to the committee and heard an informational briefing on the program'including a calculated annual rate adjustment of 8.32% that will be forwarded for formal action.

The committee approved a City of Tigard expenditure request of $18,800,000 covering two projects listed on the TDT project list (McDonald Street, Hall Boulevard to 99W; and 70 Second Avenue/99W to Hampton Street) and a Washington County request of $1,300,000 to match funds on the Council Creek Regional Trail corridor preservation and construction. Committee documents and county staff confirmed both requests were eligible for TDT funding and the WCCC Technical Advisory Committee recommended approval.

Motion and vote

A motion to approve both expenditure requests was made on the record and the committee chair announced a motion and a second; the committee recorded the motion as passing unanimously. The mover identified on the record was "Mary Lou"; the transcript does not identify a named seconder. The committee did not provide a numeric roll-call tally in the meeting transcript.

TDT rate adjustment and methodology

Dioni Valentine, principal transportation planner, walked the committee through the ordinance-based methodology for the annual TDT rate adjustment. The program uses a five-year rolling composite cost index that weights construction materials at 50 percent, labor at 30 percent and right-of-way at 20 percent. Valentine said the materials component drove the current year'over'year change and described the calculated weighted-average increase as 8.32 percent. Under the ordinance the rate cannot increase by more than 10 percent in a single year; the new rate would take effect July 1 and the formal action will be taken before the county board in April.

Why it matters: the TDT is a countywide, uniform system-development charge that funds capacity improvements on the county'approved project list. Rate adjustments affect the fee charged at building permit issuance and therefore the cost of new housing and development as well as funding available for capital projects that address new-development impacts.

Clarifying details

- Approved expenditure amounts: City of Tigard $18,800,000; Washington County $1,300,000. - Eligible projects: McDonald Street (Hall Boulevard to 99W); 70 Second Avenue/99W to Hampton Street; Council Creek Regional Trail corridor preservation and trail construction. - Rate methodology: five-year rolling composite cost index (materials 50%, labor 30%, right-of-way 20%); 8.32% calculated increase; ordinance caps annual increase at 10%; effective date July 1 pending formal county action.

Next steps

The committee directed staff to forward the annual rate adjustment for formal action to the county board; staff reported the board must act by May and will formalize the increase in April. The approved TDT expenditures will be processed through the county'administered TDT system for disbursement to the nominated projects.