Metro, the elected regional government, wants the Portland business community to support extending its voter-approved Supportive Housing Services tax that helps fund homeless program.
But, as negotiations continue, recently released documents show Multnomah County, the largest recipient of the tax dollars, has violated its own policies about spending them, creating a potential $104 million shortfall that also threatens Portland’s homeless shelter program.
The news is breaking as the Portland Metro Chamber, the membership organization that represents more than 2,200 area businesses, is scheduled to hold a breakfast forum on the future of Metro’s 10-year program, which taxes larger businesses and higher-income people to pay for the services…