PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — As soon as Monday, Portland city councilors appear poised to approve more than 500 million dollars in debt to finance a multi-billion dollar water filtration plant.
The project has exploded in cost in the last decade—from roughly $500 million in 2017 to more than $2.5 billion today. City leaders have blamed the increase on inflation, contractor availability, and better certainty as the project moves forward.
The plan, for now, is for Portland ratepayers to shoulder the cost. However, some city councilors told KATU there needs to be a more equitable plan to pay for the project…