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Portland committee to back measure directing county transfer tax funds to shelter network
Summary
The committee agreed to support LD 2124, which would increase ESHAP-funded shelter support and redirect a portion of a county real-estate transfer tax to shelter operations; lobby team said the bill could deliver about $400,000 annually under current projections.
The Legislative and Nominating Committee agreed to support LD 2124, a bill that would increase funding to ESHAP-funded shelters statewide and direct a portion of a county real-estate transfer tax toward shelter operations.
"This is really, seeks to increase the ESHAP, funded shelters across the state of which there are approximately 40," said a member of the lobby team. The lobbyist added that "it would result in about $400,000 directly, annually," if the bill were approved under the proposed mechanism.
Committee members discussed the politics of the proposed revenue shift. Lobby team members said counties are opposing the proposal because it reduces the new funding counties were anticipating from the tax increase; municipal coalitions and service centers, by contrast, are backing the measure. Mayor Mark Dion said he would provide Zoom testimony in support later that afternoon.
Public-health staff highlighted regional impacts: "46% of our intakes last year were from other main towns," one staffer said, arguing that sustaining shelters statewide indirectly affects Portland. The committee instructed staff and the lobby team to coordinate testimony and share city-specific numbers in the draft testimony to be submitted.
The committee's support is for testimony at the public hearing; the transcript did not record a formal roll-call vote on the bill.
