Notice of Measure Election
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Metro has referred a measure to voters in the Metro District (portions of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas County), at the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election, and the Multnomah County Elections Division has received a Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement for that referral. Any registered voter dissatisfied with the Ballot Title and Explanatory Statement may file a petition for review with the Multnomah County Circuit Court on or before August 16, 2022. Any person filing a petition must also notify the Director of Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland, in writing that the petition has been filed, and the notice must be given by 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after the petition has been filed with the Circuit Court. - Tim Scott, Multnomah County Director of Elections
Ballot Title
Renews local option levy; protects natural areas, water quality, fish
Question: Should Metro protect water quality, fish, natural areas, parks; renew 5-year operating levy, 9.6¢ per $1,000 assessed value, beginning 2023? This measure renews current local option taxes.
Summary: This levy does not increase tax rates. It continues the same rate previously approved by voters.
The levy protects water quality, restores fish and wildlife habitat, and connects people with nature across 18,000 acres of parks, trails and natural areas. The levy funds ongoing restoration of natural areas acquired through three voter-approved bond measures. It also improves people’s access to nature, by maintaining Metro parks and natural areas, providing nature education for visitors and schoolchildren, and supporting community-led nature projects and programs.
If renewed, the levy will continue to:
- Maintain and improve water quality in local rivers and streams
- Protect and restore habitat for salmon, other native fish
- Restore wetlands, forests and floodplains providing habitat for birds, wildlife
- Manage natural areas to better withstand heat, wildfire, extreme weather
- Maintain parks and trails; maintain and improve restrooms, picnic shelters, play areas, trailheads, and other visitor facilities and services
- Increase opportunities for children from low-income families and communities of color to connect with nature
A home assessed at $250,000 would pay $24 per year for five years.
If renewed, the proposed rate (9.6¢ per $1,000 assessed value) will raise $18,065,947.00 in 2023-24, $18,833,750.00 in 2024-25, $19,634,184.00 in 2025-26, $20,468,637.00 in 2026-27 and $21,338,555.00 in 2027-28.
Explanatory Statement
Measure ________, renewal of the Metro Parks and Nature Local Option Levy, will protect clean water, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and increase opportunities for people to connect with nature across 18,000 acres of regional parks, trails and natural areas.
Voters first approved the Parks and Nature levy in 2013, and renewed it in 2016. Since 2013, the levy has provided dedicated funding to restore and maintain habitat and connect people with nature, making our region more livable as our population grows.
If passed, this measure would renew the levy for five additional years at its current rate: 9.6 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $24 annually for a home assessed at $250,000. Renewal will not increase the tax rate currently paid by homeowners in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.
What would passing Measure ________ do?
Improve water quality, restore fish and wildlife habitat
About half of levy funding will support ongoing restoration of parks and natural areas managed by Metro across the greater Portland region – more than 18,000 acres from Chehalem Ridge near Forest Grove to the Sandy River near Gresham, from Chinook Landing and Broughton Beach on the Columbia River to Graham Oaks near Wilsonville.
If passed, this measure will provide funding to:
- Improve water quality in the Willamette, Clackamas, Tualatin and Sandy rivers, and area creeks and streams
- Restore habitat for salmon and other native fish in local rivers and streams
- Restore threatened and rare plant communities, control invasive weeds
- Enhance wetlands, forests and floodplains to protect critical wildlife habitat
- Manage natural areas to better withstand hotter summers, extreme weather and wildfires
Provide access to nature for people
About half of levy funding will connect people with nature across greater Portland. Levy funding will maintain safe and welcoming visitor facilities and services at 17 developed parks, such as Blue Lake and Oxbow, Smith and Bybee Wetlands, Chehalem Ridge, Cooper Mountain, Mount Talbert, Scouters Mountain and Canemah Bluff. About 2.5 million people visit these parks annually for walking, hiking, picnicking, birdwatching, camping, boating, fishing, and family and community gatherings.
Additionally, levy funding will support nature education programming and volunteering opportunities, as well as grants to nonprofit organizations for projects that connect community members with nature.
If passed, this measure will provide funding to:
- Increase access to local rivers, forests and natural areas
- Improve visitor services, accessibility and operations at Metro parks, including maintaining and improving restrooms, picnic areas, trails, play areas, and other visitor facilities
- Ensure park visitors of all backgrounds have opportunities to access the benefits of nature, including improved health and well-being
- Provide nature education programs, including for children from low-income families and communities of color
- Create opportunities for community-led nature education and stewardship projects
Accountability
Program expenses will be subject to annual audits and presented in the budget adopted by the Metro Council. An annual report detailing program expenses, accomplishments and progress toward specific outcomes will be presented to the community and posted on Metro's website.