In May 2020 voters in greater Portland approved a measure to raise money for supportive housing services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The program is funded by a 1% tax on taxable income of more than $125,000 for individuals and $200,000 for couples filing jointly, and a 1% tax on profits from businesses with gross receipts of more than $5 million.
Other Metro programs and projects are funded through bond measures or property tax levies. This is the first program at Metro that uses personal and business income taxes, and it is the first local personal income tax in the region since Multnomah County’s personal income tax ended in 2006.
Work is underway preparing the tax collection systems for these new taxes, which will become effective in 2021. A Supportive Housing Services Tax Implementation Advisory Table made up of experts in taxation was formed to advise Metro staff on technical aspects of implementation. Metro is also collaborating with the City of Portland who has the experience, technical capability and staff to collect these taxes for Metro.
How do I know if I’m within Metro’s jurisdiction?
To determine whether your residence, workplace and/or earned business income is within Metro's jurisdiction, enter the property address into the Find your councilor tool. If the results provide you with a Metro Councilor, then the property is within Metro's jurisdiction and may be subject to the personal or business income tax.
2020 supportive housing services tax implementation schedule
| Project components |
Date |
|---|
| Intergovernmental agreement established with the City of Portland |
Summer 2020 |
| Tax implementation advisory table convened |
Late summer 2020 |
| Administrative rules developed |
Late summer and early fall 2020 |
| Establishment of tax collection process |
Winter 2020 |