Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County officials are proposing a hike in vehicle registration fees to pay for bridge projects.  As Andrew Theen reports, Thursday brings the first of four town meetings where leaders will discuss the plan.

Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler says the fee would last 20 years and help pay a bridge maintenance backlog that soars close to a billion dollars.

Big projects loom in the balance, like the plan to replace the Sellwood Bridge.

Mike Pullen is a spokesman for the county.  He says other options to raise funds like charging tolls and raising property taxes weren't feasible.  He says the Sellwood Bridge project won't live on without local funding.

Mike Pullen: "We do have money to complete our planning project, and we do have a little more money beyond that to get through some of the design work.  But we could end up that we have a plan, and not the money to implement that plan."

Pullen says passing the fee could help secure more state and federal funding down the road.  He says the federal government is in a favorable cycle, where lots of transportation money is to be had.

County officials hope to send the proposal to the May ballot next month.