A new tax on construction should bring Portland Public Schools at least $2 million next year.

And builders can't dodge the tax: They have to pay it to get a building permit.

The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to let the Bureau of Development Services levy the tax for Portland and any of 10 other area school districts in the bureau's service area that opt for the funding. Beaverton and Portland schools have asked the bureau to start collecting the tax in January, said Denise Kleim, a manager with the development bureau.

The tax will be $1 per square foot on residential construction and 50 cents per square foot on commercial construction, she said. The Legislature passed the tax this year, a law that took effect in July. [Read Full Story]

Andy Dworkin,

The Oregonian