County adopts $19-a-year fee to replace Sellwood Bridge

Commissioners trying to find a way to pay for the $330 million project

By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Oct 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (21 Reader comments)

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Multnomah County commissioners unanimously approved a $19-a-year county vehicle registration fee Thursday to help replace the frail Sellwood Bridge.

Starting next year, most vehicle owners in the county will pay an additional $38 when they renew their two-year registration with the state, or when they register a new vehicle.

The new county fee will raise an estimated $127 million over 20 years, to cover part of the estimated $330 million price tag to replace the bridge.

Other funds will come from the state, city of Portland, and, potentially, federal funds and a smaller vehicle registration fee levied in Clackamas County. Clackamas County commissioners expect to consider a fee of perhaps $5 per year next spring.

Some have criticized the larger vehicle registration fee being levied by Multnomah County, which owns and operates the bridge, because a majority of traffic on the bridge originates in Clackamas County.

Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler said that many of those Clackamas County users are driving to jobs in Multnomah County or spending money in the county.

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